8 Steps to Consider If You Are a Family Caregiver. Steps 6-8
Step 6. Define and set limits. Some of the behaviors of a person with dementia, such as wandering away from home, erratic sleep patterns, and violent or belligerent conduct, may compromise the health and safety of your loved one and/or others in the home. Write down and talk to others about what you perceive ahead […]
8 Steps to Consider If You Are a Family Caregiver.Steps 2-3
Step 2. Educate yourself and your loved ones about dementia. “If only I knew then what I know now” is an irony known to many dementia caregivers. Knowing what to expect prepares you to navigate the difficult road ahead. It also provides tools for dealing with some of the cognitive and behavioral challenges associated with […]
How to Communicate with People Who Have Dementia Part 5
Ask yourself, “What difference does it make?” The simple question, “What difference does it make?” may simplify the complex question of “How cognitively intact must a person be to make this decision?” For instance, it matters very little if a person’s clothing matches (the person with dementia can choose what to wear); or what a […]
How to Communicate with People Who Have Dementia Part 5
Use important nonverbal communications. Using these tips is key to showing respect and to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with dementia—and may be more important than verbal communication Smile and be at ease. The message being conveyed is one of trust and respect. Notice your facial cues. Avoid furrowing your brows, rolling your […]
How to Communicate with People Who Have Dementia Part 3
Use these verbal communication tips Good communication skills are critical to respecting the autonomy of individuals living with dementia and to encouraging them to make their own choices. The following communication techniques are respectful and socially engaging, and they encourage choice: Maintain eye contact with the person. Use the person’s name frequently. […]
How to Communicate with People Who Have Dementia
Recognize the difference between competency and capacity While individuals with dementia may be judged legally incompetent, they generally retain some cognitive capacity to make decisions and exercise personal choice. Preserving their personal choice is critical to respecting them, to enhancing their personal worth, and to fostering social engagement. Competency is a legal term. Because it […]
How to Communicate with People Who Have Dementia
Believe in their personhood The goal in caring for a person with dementia is their well-being. Tom Kitwood, one of the most respected voices in early dementia care and the author of Dementia Reconsidered, says that we can enhance the well-being of individuals with dementia by “facilitating a sense of personal worth, a sense of […]
Alzheimer’s Symptom: Gets lost, even on familiar routes
When it happens Mild-stage dementia Why it happens Memory loss combines with disorientation caused by “motion blindness,” the inability to perceive motion well and navigate the environment. What you can do Know that getting lost can happen at any time, even on a walk or drive the person has made hundreds of times. Know, too, […]
Sure-fire warning signs that a senior needs more help
If an adult child or caregiver notices certain warning signs, the senior probably requires assistance on a more regular basis. Some signs to look for are: Spoiled food that doesn’t get thrown away Missing important appointments Difficulty with walking, balance and mobility Uncertainty and confusion when performing once-familiar tasks Forgetfulness Unpleasant body odor or noticeable […]
Top Five Scams that target Senior’s-Don’t be a Victim
It’s not just wealthy seniors who are targeted. Low-income older adults are also at risk of financial abuse. And it’s not always strangers who perpetrate these crimes. Over 90% of all reported elder abuse is committed by an older person’s own family members, most often their adult children, followed by grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and […]
