Tips for Dementia Care: How to Maintain Patience
Filed under: Senior Services
One of the most difficult things that a person can do is care for a loved one with dementia. As the disease progresses and the patient becomes more confused and disoriented, you might find it more difficult to remember what that person was like before the disease took over. Anytime you are in a caregiver situation, it is important to treat the person with respect and maintain your patience in the difficult circumstances. Here are a few tips that you can use to help:
Talk with Respect
It is easy to allow a condescending tone to creep into your conversation, especially if you are helping the person with basic activities of daily living. Be careful that you don’t step into the “parent” role too much, which can cause you to be disrespectful or talk down to the person.
Help the person maintain dignity as much as possible, and the best way to handle the situation is through the way you are speaking. For example, ask them if they need to “use the bathroom,” not if they need to “go potty.” By respecting the person in your conversation, it improves the overall situation and makes it easier for you to maintain your patience in all circumstances.
Identify the Cause of Behavior
When a person with dementia lashes out in anger or aggression, many people fall into the trap of responding with anger as well. Don’t take their behavior personally… you need to remember that the disease is impacting their thoughts and actions.
Instead of lashing back, step away from the situation to identify the cause of the behavior. By following the patterns, it is possible to see the factors that are causing the person to behave in an aggressive manner. Once those factors are identified, you can minimize the triggers to avoid the behavior in the future.
Answer Their Questions
Dementia causes the person to be frequently confused, which can lead to them asking the same question over and over again. Don’t let the questions wear you thin, and cause you to say something that you will later regret.
Instead, offer simple explanations to their questions and try redirecting the conversation to another topic. Another option is to partially answer the question to help them feel secure, but don’t offer lengthy explanations.
Do you need help caring for a loved one with dementia? Contact Rebecca Prouty at Always Best Care which offers assisted living, in-home care, and senior services. Call today: (951) 375-4588
