This is an article in Hovi Care’s series of 10 articles with the topic: 10 Wishes for Caregiver.
The keys to success when working with a person with memory disorders are both very easy but challenging. Everything starts with the person’s situation and his/her abilities.
In this series of articles, we’ll help you make the day successful with the person with dementia. (PwD) You will need a bag of tips and tricks to tackle multitude of situations. The tools and methods include:
- standing side-by-side
- reminiscing together
- continually searching for ways to enhance a person’s feeling of safety
- supporting a person’s self-image
- creating moments that enforce feelings of participation and a person’s sense of accomplishment
Let’s Get Started with The Importance of Active Listening
Active listening means that you are trying to find out what is going on. For example, if the person is missing her mother, do not start talking about her mother who has passed away and saying that everything is fine. Instead, try to listen to what she says about her mother and try to determine why these things are important to her just now. Is there something in the situation which makes her worried?
Waiting for the mother to arrive is quite a common situation. Some studies suggest that the person feeling uncomfortable and longing for his/her mother might be a symptom of a lack of feeling of safety. By reminiscing about what the person’s mother was like, you can create that sense of safety the person is lacking.
Common Issues and How to Handle Them
Do not be afraid of silent moments or negative feelings. Do not try to make things better by continuously talking or explaining the situation in a positive light. Listen to what the person is really saying, and by discussing together, try to find out what the underlying issue is. The person is always the main character and focus.
Sometimes, when the person is agitated, it might rub off on us as well, and we become worried about what is going to happen. This could translate into a compulsive need to keep talking. You will get better results by taking it easy and talking together with the person.
If the person has difficulties formulating words or sentences, you might start guessing what the person is trying to say, or you can accidentally suggest words that the person does not mean. In the worst-case scenario, the discussion will move to topics which the person does not intend to talk about at all. You should patiently wait for the person to express himself/herself and then help to find the right word when necessary.
Also, have a look at Hovi Care’s other articles on the series: 10 Wishes for Caregiver
Have a look at our other articles on how to take care of a person with dementia here.
If you need support services for your loved one, please contact us to hear more. We operate in Bali and Singapore. Read more about Hovi Care here.
