Relate To Them
It's always good to end the train of thought on a positive note. One that we like to use is, “but you're still here, and I'm thankful for that every day.” Ending an empathetic statement with a positive like “and we're lucky to have you!” can help bring their self-esteem up.
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.
Playing music, having objects to touch and interact with, and hand massage can all help people with dementia in the later stages. Playlist for Life is a music and dementia charity. It promotes how music with personal meaning can help people with dementia. You can find and listen to existing playlists, or make your own.
People in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease may still enjoy going out to places they enjoyed in the past. For example, the person might enjoy going to a favorite restaurant, park, shopping mall, swimming pool, museum, or theater. Keep going on these outings as long as you are comfortable with them.
They may not be able to control how they feel any more. They may not know they are upsetting you. People with dementia can still have nice feelings too. They can feel happy, safe and calm.
People with dementia think about the same things that any human thinks about — emotions, relationships, daily life, tasks to accomplish, and more. However, dementia can change how you interact with the world because of its physical, mental, and emotional effects.
For people with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, watching TV can help keep their brain active, which can stimulate positive memories, improve mood, and even increase socialization. However, the choice of program can be dependent upon the stage of dementia.
A person with dementia can experience an increase in cravings for sugary foods.
Avoid asking too many open-ended questions about the past, as it could be stressful for a person with dementia if they can't remember the answer. While it might seem polite to ask somebody about their day, it's better to focus on what's happening in the present.
Introduction: The five-word test (5WT) is a serial verbal memory test with semantic cuing. It is proposed to rapidly evaluate memory of aging people and has previously shown its sensitivity and its specificity in identifying patients with AD.
Don't correct, contradict, blame or insist. Reminders are rarely kind. They tell a person how disabled they are – over and over again. People living with dementia say and do normal things for someone with memory impairment.
Remain Calm
Ensure you practice breathing techniques to self-regulate and calm yourself. Speak gently and keep your voice positive, comforting, and reassuring. You can significantly reduce your loved ones screaming or crying episodes by staying calm and providing comfort and reassurance.
Reassure the person verbally, and possibly with arm touches or handholding if this feels appropriate. Let the person know that they are safe. It may help to provide reassurance that the person is still cared about. They may be living somewhere different from where they lived before, and need to know they're cared for.
Try to avoid asking too many questions, or asking complicated questions. The person may become frustrated or withdrawn if they can't find the answer. Try to stick to one idea at a time. Giving someone a choice is important, but too many options can be confusing and frustrating.
Brain Games for Dementia
Games and apps focused on strengthening and exercising these cognitive skills can be a great source of mental activity for someone with dementia. Examples of brain games and activities include: Play cards and board games. Solve daily crosswords and jigsaw puzzles.
The family member with dementia usually becomes the family's centre of attention. A Energy is focused on this person. This can lead to other family members, including spouses or other children, feeling neglected. They may become resentful because they feel they are not getting the attention they need.
According to the United Kingdom Alzheimer's Society Dementia 2012 Report, 61% of people with dementia felt lonely, and 77% were depressed or anxious.
Stage 6: Severe Mental Decline/Moderately Severe Dementia Quality of life: Severe impact. Your loved one will not remember much or any of the past and may not recognize you and other family and friends.
In the earlier stages, memory loss and confusion may be mild. The person with dementia may be aware of — and frustrated by — the changes taking place, such as difficulty recalling recent events, making decisions or processing what was said by others. In the later stages, memory loss becomes far more severe.
Two personality traits, neuroticism and conscientiousness, were connected to the signature buildup of Alzheimer's disease hallmarks of amyloid and tau in the brain, according to a team of researchers led by NIA-supported scientists.
While obsessions and compulsions, which are indicators of anxiety, are not uncommon in dementia, more research needs to be conducted before OCD symptoms are conclusively tied to an increased risk of dementia.