What Surprised Me Most About the Alzheimer’s Study

(Blog 1 of 5 Reflections following the completion of the study)

Completing the Alzheimer’s study gave me something I had not expected. It gave me hope.

There was a deep joy in seeing people who had been dismissed, considered to be in the advanced stages of the disease, and assumed to be on a one-way path of decline. The expectation around them was simple: that things would continue to get worse.

Yet to see them smile again…

to witness dignity return…

to observe moments of pleasure, calm, and connection re-emerge in their lives was profoundly moving.

I felt honoured to have been given the opportunity to connect with them.

At times, I sensed what I can only describe as a glimpse of the real person still present. Not gone, not disappeared, not forgotten but a vibrant, whole human being still there beneath the symptoms.

The Greatest Joy

One of the greatest joys was discovering that the benefits of improved wellbeing did not disappear immediately after the sessions ended.

The positive effects continued for at least a month.

I had expected, or perhaps hoped, that there would be some measurable improvement. That seemed reasonable. But the results we observed were far beyond my expectations, and joyously so.

It should be recognised that it was a privilege to work with these individuals. Their willingness to participate, and the trust placed in the process, made this experience deeply meaningful.

What I Expected and What I Didn’t

I did expect many participants to become more relaxed, less restless, and possibly in less pain.

I did not expect the connection to feel so meaningful, significant, and relevant.

I did expect short-term memory to remain a challenge, particularly in recognising or recalling the sessions afterwards.

I did not expect an increase in communication and genuine conversations, especially with individuals who had previously been labelled as non-verbal.

I did expect a few smiles and confusion as we explained what was going to happen each time.

I did not expect the level of understanding some participants showed during the sessions, or their recognition of the process itself.

Overall, the experience was astounding.

I didn’t expect the kind of results we saw.

Something More Than Physical Change

It may sound unusual, but at times it felt like an exchange of knowingness. A sense that something important was happening beyond the physical was almost tangible.

I genuinely felt an exchange of unconditional love.

We often speak about love in theory.

Yet this was experienced in practice, and with people who had been strangers only weeks before.

At this stage in their lives, many barriers had fallen away.

It felt as though the essence of the person, their true self, was more visible.

And when surrounded with kindness, patience, and genuine presence, they responded.

That response was unforgettable. I did not expect it and I am deeply grateful for the privilege of witnessing it.

Gratitude

I remain sincerely grateful to:

the participants

their families

the carers

and the care home manager

whose foresight and willingness made this study possible.

They were open to exploring whether it might be possible to bring more peace, comfort, and moments of joy into daily life within the residence.

I believe, together, we achieved that goal.

Thank you.

Mandy

Learn more in the book Healing and Alzheimer's: A Care Home Study Exploring Well-being, Comfort, and Connection in Dementia