Dr. Mele’s 5-Point Dignity Checklist:

☐ Choice & Control

• Do I offer real choices in daily routines (what, when, how)?

• Am I including the person in decisions about their care?

• OT Value: Supporting autonomy improves motivation, trust, and engagement in daily life.

☐ Doing With, Not For

• Am I helping the person participate—even in small ways?

• Or am I taking over tasks to save time?

• OT Value: Active participation maintains strength, function, and confidence.

☐ Respectful Communication

• Am I speaking with the person, not at them?

• Am I avoiding elderspeak (baby talk, oversimplifying, talking for them)?

• OT Value: Respectful communication improves cooperation and emotional well-being.

☐ Meaningful Activity Matters

• Am I supporting activities that give this person purpose?

• Have I adapted tasks instead of removing them?

• OT Value: Participation—not just independence—drives quality of life.

☐ Safety Without Taking Over

• Am I promoting safety without limiting independence too much?

• Have I adapted the environment before restricting activity?

• OT Value: The right balance reduces fall risk while preserving confidence and function.

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It all started when…

Jenna’s grandma lived with dementia. One day, she didn’t return home after a brief stay in the hospital. Dr. Mele was unfamiliar with older adult rehab at the time, but as a pediatric OT she understood cognitive impairment. Her grandmother was rapidly discharged from occupational therapy services due to “non-compliance and inability to follow instructions”. Her grandma had been living with dementia for over a year and her family didn’t know how to help her thrive. They felt hopeless because professionals gave up on improving her quality of life.

Dr. Mele believes this story of hopelessness is too common. Her family did their best visiting and celebrating holidays in the skilled nursing home, but they knew Grandma wasn’t shining. After she passed away, Dr. Mele was committed to filling the gap in care when it came to aging with dignity. Where the systems give up, she leans in.

Dr. Mele is a certified Care Manager, Memories in the Making Facilitator, Positive Approach to Care consultant, and an occupational therapist. She is certified in Car Fit, a program designed to support driver safety, and early on in her career was also a Registered Yoga Teacher. She speaks to international audiences, graduate students, and teaches at a local college program. She also speaks to stakeholders in the community including assisted living communities, post-acute care centers, and senior centers about managing dementia, wellness and fall prevention. She is the chair of the Los Angeles Occupational Therapy Leadership Forum and sits on the board of the Violence Intervention Program board to address elder abuse from an occupational therapy perspective. Dr. Mele is committed to providing dignified care for all people and strives to fill the gaps in care with the “just right” support.