Should i correct someone with dementia

When relating to a person with Alzheimer's, there are many guidelines to follow. 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.

Don't Tell Them They're Wrong About Something : To let the person save face, it's best not to contradict or correct them if they say something wrong. There's no good reason to do that. If they're alert enough, they'll realize they made a mistake and feel bad about it. Even if they don't understand their error, correcting them may embarrass or be otherwise unpleasant for them. Don't Argue With the Person: It's never a good idea to argue with a person who has dementia.

First of all, you can't win. And second, it will probably upset them or even make them angry. I learned a long time ago, when caring for my beloved Romanian soul mate, Ed, the best thing to do is simply change the subject -- preferably to something pleasant that will immediately catch their attention.

That way, they'll likely forget all about the disagreement. Don't Ask if They Remember Something: When talking with a person who has Alzheimer's, it's so tempting to ask them if they remember some person or event. One of the most difficult aspects of dementia is that in its later stages, it not only robs the person of their memory, it often causes the person to lose their sense of what is real and what is not real.

Dementia patients lose this ability as the disease progresses and can become agitated or upset when their concept of reality is challenged. This can help the person with dementia feel normal and reduce or even eliminate confusion and agitation.

When reality as we know it can no longer be understood by the person living with dementia, it is an act of love to let go of the need to control their thinking and instead, just go along for the ride. Even as we validate the new reality of our loved ones and clients with dementia, there are times when distraction and redirection are necessary.

This is particularly true when the person with dementia develops a belief that they or someone they love is in danger. GreenField Terrace provides memory care and enhanced assisted living. Do you remember? Become a Member of The Gem Society. Niagara Lutheran Health Foundation.

Foundation Page. What's Happening:. These troubling dementia behaviors test caregivers to the core. Ardeshir Hashmi. Behaviors like aggression, confusion, sleep problems, and wandering are common, but they can be managed, Hashmi says. Memory loss and confusion become more common as dementia progresses. Memory loss can lead to confusion and confusion often manifests as a senior asking the same questions over and over, not recognizing formerly familiar people or places, or becoming disoriented.

Like many dementia behaviors, confusion can have a number of triggers or root causes. Factors that may contribute to disorientation include the following:.

To help minimize confusion, he suggests several ways to simplify both the home environment and your interactions:. Provide structure. Lastly, Hashmi says, it helps if you can learn to accept the confusion. In the moment, he says, whatever your loved one thinks is real is in fact their reality. Confronting or trying to change the belief often leads to agitation and aggression. Verbal threats and physical aggression can be among the more serious of the dementia behaviors.

These verbal or physical outbursts may occur seemingly out of nowhere. One study found that more than a third of caregivers reported abuse from a patient in the three months prior. Why are you angry at me? Aggression can stem from:.

Most importantly, try not to take the aggressive behavior personally, Hashmi says. Ask: Are you hungry? Are you thirsty? Are you in pain? Are you tired? While quality sleep tends to decrease as you age, people who have dementia experience more sleep disturbances than other seniors. In fact, sleep problems affect as many as a third of seniors with dementia. Common sleep issues may include:. Sleep disturbances are hard on patients and caregivers alike, Hashmi says. Our advisors help , families each year find the right senior care for their loved ones.

Troubled sleep is thought to be a dementia risk factor as well as a behavioral symptom. Avoid things that disrupt sleep. Create a routine that supports sleep. Sixty percent of people who have dementia will wander. As their memory declines, they might leave a confusing situation or suddenly try to find someone and become disoriented and lost.