As the saying goes, there’s no place like home; but what do you do when someone you love and care for insists on going home – when that person already IS home? When you are providing care for a loved experiencing confusion stemming from memory loss in Alzheimer’s, unfortunately this discussion can be a common occurrence. And the uncertainty and grief stricken yearning being conveyed are nothing less than heartbreaking – and, if we’re truthful, aggravating.
At Home Sweet Home In-Home Care, our skilled Alzheimer’s care in Kalamazoo and the surrounding area helps families take care of tricky events such as this, and we suggest trying the following to help you return peacefulness to an upset person with dementia:
- Validate the senior’s words rather than rationalize them. Reasoning or arguing with a loved one with Alzheimer’s may actually build up stress and unrest. Even when the older person is in the same exact home she’s lived in for the previous 19 years, in her own mind, “home” may possibly represent the security she experienced in her childhood home together with her mom and dad. Her feelings of loss are quite real, and ought to be recognized.
- Provide reassurance. Keep a calm, comforting tone of voice and body language and sit close to the senior, providing comfort by a hug, hand-holding, or kindly touching the person’s arm, if these types of actions are appreciated.
- And then redirect. After you’ve provided a soothing presence and affirmed the older person’s views, redirection to some satisfying, enjoyable activity will be helpful. Walking in the garden or perhaps in a different area of the home, playing favorite songs, or browsing photograph albums are just a very few suggestions; consider the particular person and incorporate the things that work best for her.
For additional tips about helping reestablish peace to a distressed senior with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia, contact Home Sweet Home In-Home Care, top providers of Alzheimer’s care in Kalamazoo and surrounding areas, at (269) 849-9252. We are able to help keep seniors safe, enrich socialization, and present them with opportunities to bolster both cognitive and physical wellbeing through services such as:
- Patient, sensitive help with personal care tasks such as bathing and dressing
- Participating in chats and reminiscing about the past
- Assisting a senior with doctor-approved activities and exercises
- Playing board games, cards or games on a tablet devise with the senior
- Preparing healthy meals
- Running errands including picking up groceries and prescription medications
- Providing transportation to medical appointments and other outings
- And so much more
Whether a couple of hours each week of respite care for primary family caregivers are necessary, or full-time, seamless, around-the-clock caregiving is wanted, we’re always ready to partner with you to deliver the very best quality dementia care to help those struggling with the challenges of memory loss in Alzheimer’s. Contact us to learn more and to arrange for a free in-home assessment.