Naomi Feil M.S.W. - The Validation Breakthrough: Simple Techniques for Communicating with People with Alzheimers Disease and Other Dementias

Health Professions Press, Inc.

Post Office Box 10624

Baltimore, Maryland 21285-0624

www.healthpropress.com

Copyright 2022 by Naomi Feil and Vicki de Klerk-Rubin. All rights reserved.

The individuals described in this book are composites or real people whose situations are masked and are based on the authors experiences. In most instances, names and identifying details have been changed to protect confidentiality. Real names and identifying details are used with permission.

The information provided in this book is in no way meant to substitute for a medical practitioners advice or expert opinion. Readers should consult a medical practitioner if they are interested in more information on dementia. This book is sold without warranties of any kind, express or implied, and the publisher and authors disclaim any liability, loss, or damage caused by the contents of this book.

Permission to reprint the photographs on the following pages is gratefully acknowledged: , Ann Gurnett and Pam Amos.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Feil, Naomi, author. | de Klerk-Rubin, Vicki, author.

Title: The validation breakthrough : simple techniques for communicating with people with Alzheimers and other dementias / Naomi Feil and Vicki de Klerk-Rubin.

Description: Fourth edition. | Baltimore : Health Professions Press, [2022] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2022027479 (print) | LCCN 2022027480 (ebook) | ISBN 9781956801002 (paperback) | ISBN 9781956801019 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Alzheimers disease--Patients--Care. | Senile dementia--Patients--Care. | Validation therapy. | BISAC: HEALTH & FITNESS / Diseases & Conditions / Alzheimers & Dementia | FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Eldercare

Classification: LCC RC523 .F454 2022 (print) | LCC RC523 (ebook) | DDC 616.8/311--dc23/eng/20220803

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022027479

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022027480

British Library Cataloguing in Publication data are available from the British Library.

PrologueFlorence Trew 18721963: I died, by Naomi Feil

Naomi Feil, M.S.W., ACSW, is the Founder of the Validation Training Institute. She is the originator of Validation, currently recognized throughout the world as a state-of-the-art method for communicating with older adults diagnosed as having neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) due to Alzheimers disease or other forms of dementia.

Ms. Feil earned her masters of social work degree from Columbia University and studied at the New School for Social Research, Case Western Reserve University, and the University of Michigan. In 1963, she became dissatisfied with traditional therapies for older people with dementia and began to develop her own methods for helping older people cope with the cognitive impairment that is sometimes part of the aging process.

In addition to her earlier book on Validation, Ms. Feil has published numerous journal articles and, in collaboration with her husband Edward R. Feil, a documentary filmmaker, has produced nine award-winning films on Validation. The Validation Breakthrough has sold more than 55,000 copies in the United States alone in previous editions. She is internationally recognized for her work with older people and was one of the most sought-after trainers in the field. More than 30,000 facilities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan have adopted Validation, and nearly 90,000 professional and family caregivers have attended her workshops in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. There are 23 Validation centers that teach Validation certification courses in 13 countries.

Vicki de Klerk-Rubin, R.N., M.B.A., is a Validation Master Teacher and the Executive Director of the Validation Training Institute (VTI). As the daughter of Naomi Feil, she strives to continue the legacy her mother started by ensuring that the VTI remains strong and committed to spreading the method she developed with integrity, creativity, and love.

Ms. de Klerk-Rubin assisted in the development of Authorized Validation Organizations (AVOs) throughout the world. She is especially proud of her work with other Validation Teachers in developing the standardized curricula, the Quality Manual, and certification levels. More recently, she has focused on developing online Validation training as well as training for specific groups of people: Validation for Family Caregivers and Validation for First Responders. Each training is focused on the needs of the participant. Every online course follows strict quality standards for online pedagogy.

Ms. de Klerk-Rubin received her masters degree in business administration from Fordham University (1983) and a nursing degree from Hogeschool Holland, Amsterdam (1997). She has published numerous articles on Validation in Dutch and British magazines and is co-author on revisions of Naomi Feils publications. Her book Validation Techniques for Dementia Care: The Family Guide to Improving Communication has been published in English (2008, Health Professions Press), German, Japanese, Swedish, and French. Her newest publication, Validation for First Responders (2019, VTI), is also available in German and French.

Vicki de Klerk-Rubin

The breakthrough referred to in the title of this book did not happen quickly, nor is it finished. Naomi Feil has changed the way most people in the field of gerontology approach disorientation, dementia, and Alzheimers disease. She was the first person to say that caregivers need to step into the shoes of the disoriented old-old person. In doing so, she became the godmother of person-centered care. Through her charisma and focused energy, she spread awareness of her method throughout the world by doing workshops. These full-day, one-woman shows inspired a generation of caregivers. Since the late 1970s, Naomi presented more than 1,000 workshops in the United States and 1,000 in Europe. She also held workshops in Australia, Asia, and Africa. Many of the Validation concepts have become accepted facts and have been integrated into the medical and scientific body of knowledge. Validation has inspired many other person-centered methods. And so, the breakthroughs continue.

Feils method also continues to develop and change with the times. The Validation Masters who make up the Education Committee listen to criticism and, informed by their wide-ranging experience, propose changes to the method, the philosophy, the language used, and how Validation is taught throughout the world. The Validation method is not static.

The most important change made to this edition of The Validation Breakthrough is the language used to refer to people in the Resolution Stage of Life. Many people have expressed discomfort with the terms Malorientation and Vegetation (in particular). After much thought and discussion, the Education Committee decided to discard the labels and instead provide descriptions of characteristic behaviors and ways of communicating.