“Open-ended questions are great when you want to have a conversation and connect,” says Drew. “People living with Alzheimer's may enjoy talking about their families, friends, and the things they like in life, whether it's a hobby, an old TV show, or their favorite foods.”
When you were a teenager, what did you and your friends do for fun? What are some of the most valuable things you learned from your parents? What did your grandparents and great grandparents do for a living? When you were growing up, what did you dream you would do with your life?
Communicate clearly and calmly. Use short, simple sentences. Don't talk to the person as you would to a child – be patient and have respect for them. Try to communicate with the person in a conversational way, rather than asking question after question which may feel quite tiring or intimidating.
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.
Losing the ability to smell peppermint, fish, orange, rose and leather could be an accurate early warning sign of dementia, according to a new study. The ability of nearly 3,000 people aged 57 to 85 to detect these five odours was tested by scientists.
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.
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.
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.
Some of the more common triggers for dementia like a change in environment, having personal space invaded, or being emotionally overwhelmed may be easier to handle if you mentally practice your response before you react.
Talk to them about their life, their childhood, and their family. Look through photos and make a photo album. Watch family videos together. Ask them about their favourite memories around a particular topic, such as their favourite holiday or oldest friend.
Talking About Aging, Life Lessons, and Legacy
Many seniors are happy to be open and honest about their perspectives on life and growing older, especially when they're talking with someone they trust and who is truly listening.
While the impacts of AD vary across the disease-severity spectrum, improved memory and disease modification were treatment outcomes considered most important to participants across all 5 AD stages.
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.
They conducted a peanut butter smell test hoping to find an inexpensive, noninvasive way to detect early-stage Alzheimer's and track its progress. The test was conducted on cognitively normal individuals as well as: 18 patients diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease. 24 patients with mild cognitive impairment.
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.
Noise, glare and background distraction (such as having the television on) can act as triggers. Monitor personal comfort. Check for pain, hunger, thirst, constipation, full bladder, fatigue, infections and skin irritation.
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.
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.