Most experts say that if the affected person asks you what's wrong with them, you should be honest. Knowing that the problem is a disease, not "insanity," is often a relief for the person affected. Telling someone who has not asked may be helpful, particularly if the person appears troubled about his or her condition.
Lying to dementia patients can be the right way to care for them because: They don't remember the truth and repeatedly telling them or insisting on facts will only cause them distress and pain, especially when it comes to something emotional.
I'm going to discuss five of the most basic ones here: 1) Don't tell them they are wrong about something, 2) Don't argue with them, 3) Don't ask if they remember something, 4) Don't remind them that their spouse, parent or other loved one is dead, and 5) Don't bring up topics that may upset them.
It is the honest thing to do. Your loved one may suspect something is wrong. Knowing may bring a sense of relief. Knowing allows a person with Alzheimer's and his or her family to start putting a plan in place for long-term care.
Though this practice of telling white lies is controversial, “therapeutic fibbing” – as it's called by the Alzheimer's Association – can decrease agitation and anxiety in the patient and ease the stress on the caregiver.
Asking open-ended questions to your loved one diagnosed with dementia is not a good thing because they can quickly spiral down into a state of confusion. Asking them questions that inquire about previous events such as “what did you eat yesterday” can cause distress since they are not able to recall anything.
It's also possible for seniors with dementia to tell outright lies, such as saying they need to go to a meeting with the president or lying about their former employment, when the feel embarrassed, scared, or they become aware they are doing things that aren't quite right.
Administration: The examiner reads a list of 5 words at a rate of one per second, giving the following instructions: “This is a memory test. I am going to read a list of words that you will have to remember now and later on. Listen carefully. When I am through, tell me as many words as you can remember.
Although you may dread telling her, it might serve a form of relief for her to openly talk about her disease and the life issues she is facing. Additionally, withholding the truth about a diagnosis of Alzheimer's or dementia could lead to paranoia later and cause a breach of trust between your mom and yourself.
Receiving a life-changing dementia diagnosis doesn't strip a person of their humanity or personhood. People with dementia think about the same things that any human thinks about — emotions, relationships, daily life, tasks to accomplish, and more.
Someone with Alzheimer's disease may start rummaging or searching through cabinets, drawers, closets, the refrigerator, and other places where things are stored. He or she also may hide items around the house. This behavior can be annoying or even dangerous for the caregiver or family members.
other long-term health problems – dementia tends to progress more quickly if the person is living with other conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, particularly if these are not well-managed.
Alzheimer's disease progressively destroys brain cells over time, so during the early stages of dementia, many do recognize something is wrong, but not everyone is aware. They may know they are supposed to recognize you, but they can't.
Dependent upon the dementia stage, news reports, violent dramas or even chaotic commercials can cause stress and fear. It's best to plan ahead rather than taking your chances with flipping through cable channels.
Individuals with dementia may experience memory difficulties, issues with their ability to think, and trouble completing daily tasks. They may be aware of their symptoms in the early stages of dementia. However, a person may lose this awareness by the late stages of dementia.
Talk in a place where they feel confident and secure — most often, this means at their home. Whenever possible, it's best to discuss moving to memory care in person.
Being a caregiver can be extremely rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming. Caring for a person with Alzheimer's or a related dementia takes time and effort. It can feel lonely and frustrating. You might even feel angry, which could be a sign you are trying to take on too much.
The Mini-Cog test.
A third test, known as the Mini-Cog, takes 2 to 4 minutes to administer and involves asking patients to recall three words after drawing a picture of a clock. If a patient shows no difficulties recalling the words, it is inferred that he or she does not have dementia.
The main sign of mild cognitive impairment is a slight decline in mental abilities. Examples include: Memory loss: You may forget recent events or repeat the same questions and stories. You may occasionally forget the names of friends and family members or forget appointments or planned events.
In stage 6 of dementia, a person may start forgetting the names of close loved ones and have little memory of recent events.
People with dementia often develop restless behaviours, such as pacing up and down, wandering out of the home and agitated fidgeting. This phase does not usually last for long.
To caregivers, this behavior may come across as intentionally manipulative, but this is rarely the case. “Dementia patients lose cognitive skills like logic, reasoning, problem-solving and decision-making,” explains Poiley. “So beyond the very beginning stages, a patient really couldn't be truly manipulative.”