Connecting with a Person Living with Dementia

Do you ever feel disconnected or detached from a person living with Alzheimer's and dementia? What do we do in order to understand, cope, and communicate with a person living with Alzheimer's or a related dementia?By Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomIt is very easyto feel disconnected from a person living with dementia.Let's face it, the person living with dementia changes while we remain the same.Our tendencies is to continue communicating with them inthe same way we always have. This usually worked well in the past.Now, all of a sudden it is not working.Topic -How to Convince an Alzheimer's Patient They Need Help?For example, we are in the habit of trying toexplain to a person why they should do something when theywon't cooperate with us. We usually site the benefits of cooperation. All of this seems very logical to us.Topic -Why do dementia patients want to go homeBut,what happens when a person living with dementia is no longer capable of understanding our long winded explanations?What do we do?What I am describing is acycle of communication and coping that is very common in Alzheimer's caregivers - to many words and to much explanation.Communication that leads to frustration and a real sense of hopelessness.Topic -Alzheimer's Care and CommunicationWe find that we can't get the personto do what we want, and we can't get them tolisten.What is the role of listening in dementia care? How to talk and communicate with dementia patients effectivelyFirst and foremost,we sh...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer's awareness Alzheimer's Communication Alzheimer's Dementia alzheimers care dementia care dementia help for caregivers help alzheimer's help with dementia memory care senior care Source Type: blogs