Helpful Tips and Tricks
helpful Tips and Tricks
How to Respond to Challenging Dementia Behaviors
Caring for a loved one with dementia can be challenging, especially when they experience confusion, distress, or insist on a reality different from your own. Instead of trying to correct them, it is important to respond in a way that acknowledges their emotions and helps them feel safe. Here are four key steps to effectively manage difficult dementia-related behaviors.
4 Steps to Determine How to Respond
- Avoid Trying to Convince Them of Something They Don’t Believe
- Arguing or correcting their perception can cause frustration and distress. Instead, meet them where they are in their current reality.
- Provide or Ask for an Explanation That Makes Sense to Them
- Instead of contradicting them, offer a reassuring explanation that aligns with their perspective or ask them to share what they believe.
- Validate Their Emotions
- Acknowledge their feelings and let them know that their emotions are normal and understandable.
- Redirect Their Attention Once They Are Calm
- After their emotions are settled, gently transition to a different activity to help them focus on something positive.
Situation #1:
Dealing with the Loss of a Loved One
Scenario: Your mother asks whether her husband is still alive, despite his passing years ago.
How to Respond Using the 4 Steps:
- Since she is explicitly asking about her husband's passing, she may already suspect the truth.
- Because she is aware of the possibility, it is appropriate to confirm that he has passed away.
- Validate her emotions by acknowledging her grief and reassuring her that it is okay to feel sad.
- Observe her reaction—whether she is mourning or feeling relief—before transitioning to another activity, ensuring she is calm first.
Situation #2:
Wanting to Go Home to Care for Children
Scenario: Barbara, a 94-year-old woman, insists she must leave to take care of her young children, even though her children are now in their 70s.
How to Respond Using the 4 Steps:
- In Barbara’s reality, she is 30 years old, and her children are small. Her belief is deeply rooted, and contradicting it will only upset her.
- Instead of correcting her, provide an explanation that makes her feel at ease, such as telling her that her children are safe with a trusted caregiver.
- Validate her feelings by recognizing her concern for her children’s well-being.
- Once she feels reassured, gently shift her focus to a different conversation or activity to help her feel more at ease.