Zinnia TV is a streaming service that provides science-backed content, which is engaging for and easily understandable by people living with dementia. The TV acts as a medium through which therapeutic content is delivered. Family and professional caregivers watch Zinnia videos with persons living with dementia to encourage reminiscence, foster meaningful connections, and promote conversation. Videos are used to reduce and soothe agitation and to assist with adherence to activities of daily living. Titles like, Let’s Drink Water, Let’s Use the Toilet and Let’s Get Dressed demonstrate the activity about to take place, increasing understanding and lowering stress.
Watched alone, Zinnia videos provide moments of respite – caregiver gold!
Co-founder, Allyson Schrier, conceived Zinnia in response to the challenges she faced as a dementia family caregiver for her husband with FTD. She recognized the power of visual cueing to drive conversation and accomplishment of activities–a recognition that was backed up by publications in academic and scientific journals. Research performed by universities at memory care communities and successful pilot programs has verified the efficacy of Zinnia TV.
Before launching Zinnia, Allyson was a dementia educator, teaching best practices to both professional and family caregivers to support people living with dementia and themselves. She also worked at the University of Washington’s Memory and Brain Wellness Center, managing a program to educate primary and allied healthcare providers about dementia detection, diagnosis, and support.
Allyson’s understanding of the imperative for dementia education led to the addition of a Caregiver Education channel within Zinnia. Allyson and her team recognize how important it is for caregivers to understand the brain changes that result from dementia. They also need to understand how those changes correspond with the way that a person with dementia experiences the world. And most importantly, caregivers need to understand that it is themselves, not the person with dementia, who must change to foster more effective communication and connection, and to reduce stress and anxiety for both the person they support and themselves.
When teaching dementia education classes, Allyson always included an introduction to the work of Naomi Feil and the Validation Training Institute. A highlight of the dementia classes that Allyson taught to professional caregivers was watching, with her students, a video in which Naomi connects with Gladys Wilson, an elderly woman living with the advanced stages dementia. The video demonstrates the power of Naomi Feil’s Validation method techniques. Students left class with an understanding of the importance of shifting into the reality of a person living with dementia. They understood that, with the right approach, they could unlock connection even in the latest stages of dementia.
Earlier this year Allyson was thrilled to make the acquaintance of Vicki de Klerk, who has carried on the legacy of her mother, Naomi Feil. Naomi had long been one of Allyson’s “dementia superheroes.” When Allyson learned that the Validation Training Institute had education videos demonstrating Validation in action, she hoped there might be an opportunity for Zinnia to partner with Vicki and the Validation Training Institute.
In keeping with Zinnia’s mission to provide caregiver education, the Zinnia team and the Validation Training Institute have worked together to identify content that fits perfectly into the Zinnia platform. While a paid subscription is needed to access most Zinnia videos, the VTI channel and its videos are free to watch.
Three categories of Validation Training Institute videos are available on the Zinnia platform:
- What to do When
- How To
- Caregiver Self Care
Watched on Zinnia, the Validation Training Institute videos are free of commercials and are excellent for both family and professional caregivers.
The Zinnia Team looks forward to providing their subscribers and caregivers worldwide with insight into Naomi Feil’s Validation method. We will also encourage both family and professional caregivers to take courses through the Institute to deepen their understanding and continue developing their caregiving skills.