The Importance of Touch and Kindness in Dementia Care

One of the biggest challenges Alzheimer's Caregivers face is how to communicate effectively with someone living with Alzheimer's disease. This challenge is particularly difficult when a person living with dementia becomes nasty and mean.By Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomAt the beginning, my mother turned meaner than a junkyard dog.She said mean and nasty things to me every day.This was new. My mother had never engaged in these behaviors with me before.What is the Difference Between Alzheimer ’s and DementiaI had a leg up on this one because I studied communication in college and graduate school.Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading RoomEmail:I understood that when my mother said something mean or nasty that it was the Alzheimer's at work. It was not hard to make this cognitive leap. She had never done it before, now she was. What changed?Her brain changed. It was sick.3 Ways to Redirect a Dementia Patient and Embrace RealityEven though I understood what was happening, it still hurt when she said those things to me. She did make me feelangry and sad. Every day. Day in and Day out.I knew I had to do something. I finally realizedsomething had to change -- the first thing that had to change wasme. I was going to need tolearn how to label my feelings so I could control what I was feeling. Instead of mad, ready to take action.Topic -Coping with DementiaI also decided I was going to have to do something to change Dotty.I already knew that trying to reason with someone suffering...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer communication alzheimers care alzheimers caregiving dementia help for caregivers help alzheimer's help with dementia touch touch in dementia care Source Type: blogs