“I hear you saying you want to go home… what are you going to do when you get there?”
That line came up in a recent episode of Caregiver Crossing, and it stuck with me.
Not because it sounded clinical or particularly strategic—but because it didn’t.
What’s Happening in Georgia
The episode referenced a program out of Emory University, in collaboration with Georgia State University and the team behind Improving Through Improv.
They’re using improv techniques to help caregivers connect with people living with dementia.
Not improv in the sense of performing for an audience, but in the sense of responding in the moment. Practicing how to stay flexible in conversation. Getting comfortable with situations that don’t follow a script.
What That Looks Like in Practice
One example from the conversation made it easier to picture.
If someone with dementia says their mother is coming to pick them up, there are a few ways that interaction could go. A natural instinct might be to correct them.
But that’s not what was described.
Instead, the response might sound like:
“Tell me something great about your mom.”
“What do you think she’s going to make for dinner?”
The conversation doesn’t stop—it just takes a different path.
Another line from the episode summed it up pretty well:
“We know we have to improv things all the time.”
These aren’t rare situations. They’re just part of the day.
How They’re Teaching It
One part of this that stood out is how it’s taught.
They’re not just explaining what to do—they’re practicing it.
Caregivers act out scenarios, react in real time, and work through the kinds of conversations they’re likely to face. It’s not theoretical. It’s repetition.
That part felt familiar.
It’s the same idea behind practicing a speech out loud or running drills in sports—something I remind my kids of with soccer all the time. If I’ve got a presentation coming up or I’m heading to a conference, I’ll run through what I want to say over and over—sometimes in the car, sometimes recording myself and playing it back, making small adjustments each time. I’ve even tried convincing Tommy he should rehearse in front of a mirror.
The situation itself might still be uncomfortable—but the response starts to feel more natural.
In this case, the conversations aren’t scripted and they don’t always go the same way twice. But practicing how to respond gives caregivers something to fall back on when they’re in the moment.
What People Are Saying
From what’s been shared in coverage from CBS News and Emory, caregivers involved in the program have said they feel more comfortable navigating these interactions.
Not because the situations get easier, necessarily—but because they feel less stuck when they happen.
Practice Makes It Possible
If there’s one thing this reminded me of, it’s that practice isn’t just about getting better at something—it’s about feeling more comfortable when the moment actually arrives.
That shows up in a lot of places. Sports. Public speaking. Sales conversations. And in this case, caregiving.
You can’t script every situation. You can’t predict how someone is going to respond. But you can practice how you respond.
That seems to be what this program is doing—giving caregivers a way to step into those moments with a little more confidence and a little less hesitation.
I’d be curious to hear from others in Human Services:
How are you helping your teams prepare for the moments that don’t follow a script?
Leave a comment—I’d be interested in what’s working for you.
