Dementia Activity and Communication Tips

Dementia Activity goal for the dementia patient should to be enjoyment, not accomplishment

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with goal setting and achievement. In fact, when going through treatment (speech, occupational, physical) accomplishment is essential. Restoring some lost function... or overcoming new obstacles connected to injuries or new medical conditions.. Are realistic goals? Normally, for the individual with dementia is balancing health and satisfaction of life. – not striving to accomplish goals and accomplishments.

Use "mirroring" strategies

Those with dementia not only forget to do certain things, they forget the best ways to do them. Generally, they wish to cooperate, but just do not understand how to do the task at hand. This triggers aggravation and anxiety. This, in turn, can cause troubles in your dementia home care strategies. Be a “reflection in a mirror”, as it were, by showing to them ways to do the job or activity you want them to do. You can make believe to brush your teeth to show how they can brush their teeth. This strategy, if properly executed, can make your task of getting task done a great deal easier.

When communicating with your family member with dementia, it is essential to consider... their present abilities. This will help to understand and comprehend exactly what you are saying. Asking or requiring too much, too fast, can precipitate challenging behaviors. And in some persons, can trigger serious depression and anxiety. This, in turn, can cause a dementia tragic response.

Beware when asking about concerns

Addressing concerns requires even more thinking by the dementia patient. This is more than following a standard command. In the early stages of dementia, a family member with dementia can normally react to questions... without much trouble. As dementia proceeds, the ability to process questions becomes more difficult. Especially open-ended questions, those that need more than a basic “yes” or “no” feedback... or a selection between 2 and even more choices.

Closed-ended concerns are simpler to process. A closed-ended question needs a simple response, such as “yes” or “no”. “Did you enjoy your lunch today?” instead of “Tell me exactly what you thought about lunch.”.

An additional example would be, “Do you wish to wear the white shirt or blue one?” Both need easy, one-word feedbacks. However, the latter one also needs an option in between 2 options (what if neither would be the choice?).

Focus on your family members ability to respond to issues or questions. Use this interaction method sparingly.

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Plan tasks that they have an interest in.

Merely participating in an activity is by itself a virtually ineffective endeavor. Activities do not have to have a goal to complete something. An activity must be considered a means to participate in significant ways to spend time... for pleasure, along with a means to improve self-esteem and well-being.

A task is useful to the family member with dementia if there is:

An interest in the task,

Or previous experiences, like a hobby

This is a good time to make use of the person focused care profile to aid others providing care.

Women, for example, often discover solace just in aiding with some housework. They are familiar with tasks, such as folding clothes.

I had a number of clients that enjoyed dusting, wiping tables and counters, or simply fold towels. It was a wonderful means to utilize time effectively... while providing an activity. This promotes the dementia patient to feel as if they are contributing ... to the household tasks.

Men typically have experience with devices, machines, and the like. Definitely, male dementia patient will not be toying around with... real power drills or repairing old, beat up cars. Having a good time with “toy” variations of real items they recognize, is helpful.

Providing jobs or tasks appropriate to provide to their abilities and previous experiences... is a good dementia home care strategy. Numerous family caregivers do not make use of activities enough.

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Use simple commands, brief sentences.

When connecting with your family member with dementia, you should try to keep it short and simple. As the condition advances... you will experience and see that the capability of the dementia patient to comprehend... and act upon exactly what you are asking.

Know how you are saying things. Be aware of the tone of your voice. Make eye contact and use simple, direct commands, requests or cues.

Know your responses-- the dementia patient can read and feel your emotions.

Your family member with dementia can perceive your feelings... much better than your words. No matter what the stage of dementia. It’s not so much the words you speak however, but how you act and the tone you use when you speak.

When interacting with your relative, the point should be clear. Always strive to be calm and keep track of the tone of your voice. As dementia progresses... these things become much more important... or your family member with dementia becomes more mentally and emotionally fragile.

We have pointed out repeatedly how the dementia patient “perceives your feelings”. This is an essential strategy to use in your dementia home care tool kit. Keep calm, positive and caring.

Never discuss the individual with dementia as if they were not in the room.

Never assume that a person cannot understand what you are chatting about. Even if you are certain they cannot. It is truly undignified to talk about an individual. Specifically…anything derogatory.

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