Welcoming Students With Dementia

A year ago, two adults enrolled for T’ai Chi Chih class and it was not until class was underway that I noticed that one of them might be mentally-impaired or language-challenged. The man did not smile and the woman looked somewhat worried during that first class. After class I connected with Angel and she told me she was a caretaker for the gentleman with her. James is experiencing dementia but still has a desire to socialize and learn new skills. His overt behavior was well within the normal range, and I decided to encourage them both to attend regularly. And they did.

To get class support for them, the class was gently told that, “Everyone here is going to learn to do TCC. Only one person in class has special dispensation from the teacher to do what feels right. The rest of us will do the movements.” Everyone smiled and agreed, recognizing that this person could be them… and they would want to be welcomed in a similar fashion. Many students began making special efforts to welcome him to class, and he would respond with a smile and greeting.

As the weeks went by, we all were amazed to see the changes in James. He entered class with a big smile, and waited patiently for class to start. When we gathered in a circle, he did too. When we began to move, he did too. He seemed pleased and relaxed when moving in slow motion, with arms floating from side to side. When we came to rest, he stopped and froze… waiting for us to start moving again.

His caretaker worried that he was not imitating the TCC movements properly. I said not to be concerned, that I wanted to see if he would eventually follow some movements on his own.

In July and August, a smaller group met outdoors to practice in a Japanese garden, as did Angel and James, who regularly attended. (Angel was really pleased with her own progress in TCC, and the support of friendship of the group.)

This January, when they came to class, Angel said it would be their last class, as James would be placed in a residence and she needed to find other work. James’ family did not want him to know about this change until the day of the move, so we could not say goodbye.

Two weeks passed, and when I announced that our friends were not coming back, everyone was saddened. Then, last week, they both walked in the door with big smiles. Later Angel told me James had not been happy at the residence and had escaped two nights in a row. The staff said he would not be allowed to stay. So James is back living in his home with more daily care.

James will do fine with TCC this Spring, surrounded by a caring community of students and under the watchful eye of Angel and his teacher. As teachers, we know that the practice of TCC leads to becoming more serene, more compassionate, and more accepting of things as they are. Justin Stone would be so gratified to see how moving in slow-motion, as in a dream can be calming and uplifting for students with dementia, even if they are not doing TCC perfectly. They are in the flow and their intuitive wisdom is guiding their movements to be in harmony with the flow. The inherent wisdom of the Chi is available to all.