The VITAL Five Pillars

With more than 16 years of experience in assisted living, Eric Collett is the Principal and CEO of A Mind for All Seasons. He founded the company with a mission to change the way people understand and connect with individuals living with dementia, especially those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Through The Enhance Protocol, Eric and his team help assisted living providers move beyond simply managing decline, equipping them to become proactive centers of treatment that improve resident health while leading broader community prevention efforts.

Alongside his leadership role, Eric is a nationally recognized speaker known for his engaging presentations on dementia, behavior management, and brain science. As a trusted consultant, educator, and brain health advocate, he works with diverse audiences to close knowledge gaps and share practical, science-based strategies for supporting cognitive well-being.

How the VITAL Five Began

Eric first introduced the concept years ago while preparing to speak at a family caregiver conference. Asked to condense years of training and experience into a 25-minute talk, he looked for the common threads that defined successful caregiving. What emerged were five guiding principles—easy to remember, but powerful enough to transform the way families and caregivers interact with loved ones.

These Five Pillars are not just techniques; they are a mindset. They shift care from task-oriented to person-centered, from frustration to connection, from duty to dignity. And as Eric has seen time and again in families across the country, when caregivers embrace the VITAL Five, they begin to see their loved ones differently—and experience more peace themselves.

As Eric says, “Step one in every human interaction is connection.” The VITAL Five Pillars give us the tools to make that connection stronger, deeper, and more compassionate.

Pillar One: Validate Emotional Experience

The first pillar, validating emotional experience, reminds us that feelings aren’t random—they’re rooted in biology. Dismissing someone’s emotions only creates frustration, but recognizing and naming what they’re feeling can build trust and open the door to cooperation.

Pillar Two: Improvise in the Moment

The second pillar, improvising in the moment, reflects the reality of dementia care. Loved ones may lose their short-term memory, but they respond to what’s happening right now. Meeting them where they are—instead of forcing them into our reality—creates connection instead of conflict.

Pillar Three: Terminate the Task Trap

The third principle is terminating the task trap. Too often, caregivers focus on completing routines rather than connecting with the person in front of them. But tasks are not the measure of a life well-lived—relationships are.

Pillar Four: Accommodate Sensory Deficits

The fourth pillar reminds us that vision, language, and even smell may be impaired. Small changes—like using color contrast in the bathroom or simplifying language—can reduce fear and resistance.

Pillar Five: Honor Life History

Finally, the fifth pillar, life history, is our most powerful tool. A person’s past gives context and identity. When caregivers interact in ways that align with who someone has always been, they reinforce dignity instead of undermining it. For example, Eric tells the story of Art, a former business owner who wandered through his community checking on things. Rather than labeling him a thief when he picked something up, staff connected with him about his work, praised his “find,” and invited him to put it away—honoring the identity he carried his whole life.