Knowledgeable Aging

Resources for the Aging Population

Mindful Care-partnering in Autism

In this webinar, the attendees will learn what is mindfulness and care-partnering and its application in caring for a person with Autism. Neuroscience of mindfulness and care-partnering will also be discussed Potential benefits of mindful care-partnering for family and friends include: improved awareness of one’s fears, expectations, and judgments and how they color the way one relates to the person with Autism; improved capacity to see the situation from the point of view of the person with Autism; improved capacity to stay “in the present” and stay connected with the person with Autism as well as oneself in kinder and gentler ways. Mindful Care-Partnering is about honoring relationships, connectedness, and a sense of belonging. Many caregivers are natural at this. They are always present, patient, loving and proactive. They never lose hope, never dwell in despair or panic. For most others (including me), training is needed in mindfulness and care-partnering. Living with Autism is not easy. Let’s help each other to make Mindful Care-Partnering in Autism a reality.

Listen to the Podcast

  • 2:58 – Target audience
  • 4:11 – Benefits of mindful care-partnering
  • 6:21 – What is mindfulness
  • 9:14 – What is care-partnering
  • 11:19 – Manifestations of mindlessness
  • 15:22 – What is neuroscience
  • 19:45 – Benefits of mindful care-partnering continued
  • 23:48 – See the situation from point of view of person with autism
  • 28:14 – Stay in the present and connected with person with autism
Dr. Abhilash Desai

Dr. Desai is a geriatric psychiatrist and an adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at University of Washington School of Medicine. He is the co-author (along with his wife Dr Faith Galliano Desai) of the book One Day Mindfulness Millionaire: Living Mindfully – A Lighthearted Primer for the Uninitiated. He is also the co-author (along with his mentor Dr. George Grossberg, a national and international leader in Geriatric Psychiatry) of the book Psychiatric Consultation in Long-term Care: A guide for healthcare professionals, 2nd Edition published by Cambridge University Press in 2017. His practice focuses on helping patients with Intellectual disabilities, Autism, Treatment-resistant Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder, Dementias and Long-term care residents. He has been in practice for 21 years. Dr. Desai conducts workshops on stress management and neuroplasticity-based resilience training that includes learning simple mantra meditations and living mindfully.

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