Home Care Services North Miami FL
Watching an elderly parent suffer from dementia can be one of the most difficult experiences of your life. Not only are they unable to remember familiar faces and names, but communicating with others is also a battle they will not win.
Although you will no longer be able to communicate with your parent in the same way you used to, it is still possible to speak to them in a way they understand. Here are some tips to communicating with your elderly loved one who has dementia.
Know their capabilities. In order to understand how to communicate with the elder, you need to know what their capabilities are. Can they hear you? Understand simple commands? Knowing what their language and hearing barriers are will help you to better communicate with them.
Remove distractions. Older adults with dementia can become easily distracted. Before beginning to talk to them, remove any distractions that may take their focus off of you. This includes turning the TV, radio, and phone off. If there are a lot of people in the room who are having multiple conversations, take the elder to a quiet room.
Speak clearly and calmly. Do not have a condescending tone when talking to your loved one. What this means is that instead of speaking to the senior as if you were talking to a child, converse with them by using a calm, welcoming tone that will help them feel comfortable.
Stick to one topic at a time. Bringing up too many topics can become confusing for the elder. Stick to one topic at a time in order to prevent any stress or overwhelming feelings they may have.
Use names. When greeting an elder with dementia, it is important that you are using your name. For example say something along the lines of, “Hi Mom, it is me, Sam.” Since older adults with this condition can easily forget names of familiar faces, using names will help jog their memory.
Let them talk. If they are trying to talk to you, listen intently. Let the elder know that you care about what they have to say by leaning in and making eye contact with them. If you do not understand what is being said, politely and calmly let them know.
Do not correct them. If you know that a story your loved one is sharing never happened or they are delusional, do not try to correct them. Doing so may upset the elder and cause them to shut down from the conversation. Instead, let them continue their story, even if you know it is not true.
Get help. Caring for an elder with dementia can be a stressful experience. Consider hiring a senior home care services provider to help provide quality care for your loved one, while you take a well-deserved break.
