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 Ways to Engage
In a situation, try to find out the smallest possible detail the person could participate in. It can be something small, but it would have a significant impact on him/her. So do not put the person sitting passively in a wheelchair with nice clothes on. Any of us would, in that situation, become frustrated and start causing challenges.
The person should feel that he/she is part of what is going on and contributing to a common cause. It could be setting the table so that everyone can come to eat or folding the napkins so that they are pretty, which makes others happy. Provide possibilities to participate, which is important for the individual and contribute to the common good, making the person a part of a bigger group. The person should feel that he/she is useful and can create joy to others.
Avoid Fake Activities
Do not engage the person in fake activities because the person will know it. For example, if the person has worked as a janitor and you ask him/her to sweep the floor when there is nothing to sweep, he/she will notice that the sweeping is not needed. Similarly, if the person is folding napkins which are not placed on the table, it is a fake activity. Or cleaning the table when there is nothing to clean. Everyone wants to see the results of one’s work.
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.
