Deciphering Dementia:
Family Caregiver’s Communication Guide
“He just blew up at me!”, “I only asked if she was okay, and now she is losing it!"
Family caregivers of dementia patients often report that outbursts occur out of the blue. Watching someone you love acting out can be heartbreaking. Here are some tips for you to communicate smartly to manage problem behaviours effectively while coping to live with a family member diagnosed with dementia. 1. Communicating with Care
If they do not answer you or seem to have lost focus, try phrasing the sentences using easier words. Be careful
to not talk down to them, as it may upset them. Do not use slang, as it is more than likely to perplex them. Constant engagement with a dementia patient is vital for their well-being. It offers reassurances and curbs loneliness. Do not lose hope when talking to them, you are all they have! 2. Understanding Problem BehavioursOne of the most difficult tasks when caring for a dementia patient is when he/she becomes agitated. Expressions of negative emotions by a dementia patient most commonly fosters aggressive behaviour, though sometimes may entail crying uncontrollably.
As you continue to engage with your loved one, you will be able to better recognize triggers which cause his/her discomfort. This is the first step to help him/her become more at ease in certain situations.
You will begin to find that certain things almost always sets the patient off. Be sure to correct those things first to avoid such instances.
When you start to see those cues, take a look at the environment they are in to see if there are any conditions that may be deemed as uncomfortable. Dementia patients feel safer when a routine is set and extrinsic factors are minimized as a whole. Consider your daily routine with the dementia patient and identify things that you may have missed out like meal, sleep and medication timings. The surrounding temperature may also be the reason behind their irritability, adjusting the temperature to their preference may help as well. Ensure that the room they are in is not crowded with materials or people. If the patient seems fine, it does not mean that you do not have to keep an eye on them. Ensure that they are constantly distracted with their favourite items or topics. This will prevent them from focusing on things that may be considered as out of the ordinary to them. Taking them out for a walk to get some fresh air may help ease their tension as well. 3. Reacting to Problem BehavioursIn the event of an outburst of emotions, patients may either get verbally aggressive like swearing and shouting, or even display physically aggressive behvaiours like hitting and scratching. Because of the disease, your loved one is not able to process his or her environment.
Here are some things you should do:
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Help Is Around The CornerDementia is a disease that can bring misery to a family if it isn't handled carefully and correctly.
As a family member and caregiver, finding support is your first step to grasping and coming to terms with this disease. You will need an outlet to express your fears, frustrations and confusion. When negotiating with a dementia patient who is going through a emotional distress, it is important to remember that the reason for the splurt of emotions is more often than not a medical or physical reason. Therefore as a family caregiver, you should not be feeling guilty, and should deal with it objectively. Taking a logical and systematic approach will resolve the matter quickly. Taking care of a dementia patient can be especially trying, but you do not need to deal with it on your own. Many medical institutions offer help groups to connect with others who are facing the same challenges.You have a chance to put across queries and find solutions to problems you may face at home. There is always a helping hand, if you reach out yours! |