Every Person Deserves Dignity and Respect
By Concordia Connection Staff Writer
For this series on Dementia Education at Concordia, we had the privilege of sitting down with the two remarkable women who founded this unique program. Their unwavering compassion and boundless passion are the driving forces behind this initiative, inspiring us all.
Introducing Cecilia and Terri
Cecilia Nguyen, Clinical Performance Specialist at Concordia Hospital and Concordia Place, and Terri Bowser, Regional Educator with the WRHA Rehabilitation Health Aging and Seniors Care, are the founders and passionate leaders of a comprehensive program called “Code Comfort.”
This unique program was designed specifically for Concordia Staff to provide highly practical awareness and training for front line workers, especially for people who regularly work with people who are experiencing dementia. Approximately two out of every three attendees indicated that the course offered at Concordia is the only dementia-related course they have ever taken, which highlights a significant knowledge gap that needed to be addressed effectively.
Meeting Cecilia and Terri provided awareness for working closely with people with dementia. Our perception was altered entirely, and we came away inspired and invigorated. We immediately sensed the chemistry and respect they had for each other. The first few words they spoke gave us insight into their passion and lifelong commitment to educating all people on how important compassion and empathy are when dealing with everyone but especially for those struggling with dementia.
The Back Story
Cecilia, who started her career journey at Concordia Hospital in June 2015, brings a wealth of nursing and scientific research experience. She attained her Master of Science from the University of Manitoba in 2012 and her Bachelor of Nursing from the University of New Brunswick in 2015. Her diverse background, including her role as the Nurse Educator for the Family Medicine program, has been vital in her current position as the Clinical Performance Specialist, where she focuses on knowledge translation.
“I am passionate about challenging the negative perceptions often associated with working with older adults because we all know amazing older adults in our daily lives. Through this program, I want to build exemplary clinical role models who can help shift attitudes toward caring for older adults from negative to positive. “
Terri, a nurse and university professor, has combined her passion for older adults with teaching and knowledge translation to improve dementia education. “Many people have unjust and inaccurate negative perceptions of older adults,” she said, expressing her desire to learn best practices and spread awareness.
Her commitment stems from losing her father to Lewy body dementia, which drives her to emphasize compassion in dementia care. Reflecting on her personal experience, she believes dementia is often misunderstood until one gains deeper knowledge about it. Her father, a cartoonist, continues to inspire her teachings on dementia care.
Doing The Best With What You Have
Terri’s history and hands-on life experience, as well as Cecilia’s education and passion, make them the ‘dream team,’ and they are willing to share their message with anyone who will listen.
People with dementia are doing the best they can in the face of a challenging and often bewildering condition.
Each day, people with dementia navigate a world that may seem increasingly unfamiliar, relying on their remaining cognitive strengths and the support of loved ones and caregivers.
Their resilience is evident as they adapt to changes, find ways to communicate, and maintain connections with others. These individuals often draw upon deep-seated memories and routines to maintain a sense of normalcy and dignity. Their efforts, no matter how small, are a testament to their enduring spirit and the human capacity to cope with profound changes.
The heart of their message is it is essential to understand a person struggling with dementia by educating yourself to see the world through their eyes.
It’s crucial to recognize that people are doing the best they can with what they’ve got, and to provide them with the utmost compassion and empathy in their journey with dementia.
This story is by no means finished. We will work with Terri and Cecilia on an ongoing series on this topic as well as some practical suggestions in dealing with a loved one. This series will be posted online and they both are open to speaking engagements from the community. Contact Cecilia at 204-661-7435 or email at
