Providing Compassionate Care: What to Avoid When You’re Supporting a Loved One with Alzheimer’s
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease presents various challenges. It requires patience, understanding, and compassion, in addition to an intricate understanding of the common symptoms and needs of a person living with dementia. When you’re providing Alzheimer’s home care for a loved one, it’s helpful to know that certain actions or words can cause confusion or distress. In this article, we’re aiming to help you avoid these moments and provide a nurturing, supportive environment for your loved one.
Improving Communication When Providing Alzheimer’s Home Care
When you’re caring for a senior who’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, effective communication is key. Ensuring that you’re offering support without causing distress or confusion is key, but striking that balance can often be difficult. Here are several ways you can ensure you’re providing care without contributing to your loved one’s symptoms:
Avoid Triggering Topics
Alzheimer’s disease can cause anger and aggression, and while that’s difficult for caregivers, it’s just as hard to work through for the senior. Avoid bringing up topics that typically cause them upset. Your loved one will feel better overall if they have more opportunities to remain calm and feel nurtured.
Don’t Engage in Arguments
As mentioned above, your loved one may get upset easily, but avoiding arguments is important even if you feel they’re intentionally picking on you. Instead of engaging with them, change the subject to something positive. In most cases, they’ll forget about the disagreement and quickly change their attitude.
Let Them Be Wrong
If your loved one states a fact or memory incorrectly, there’s no need to tell them they’re wrong. Depending on how far their dementia has progressed, correcting them is likely to either embarrass them or they simply won’t understand the error they’ve made.
Don’t Ask About Specific Memories
Whether it’s asking what they had for breakfast or asking about an old friend, it’s likely that your loved one won’t remember these specific events. Asking them about things they can’t recall may cause them to feel embarrassed, frustrated, or even angry. If they bring up memories, it’s fine to discuss them, but it’s best not to ask directly.
Don’t Remind Them of Deceased Loved Ones
Often, seniors with Alzheimer’s disease don’t remember that a spouse, parent, or other loved one has passed away. If they speak about a deceased loved one as though they’re still alive, correcting them may upset them and make them angry, or worse, it may cause them to feel the same way they did when the death first occurred. While it’s okay to respond honestly if they ask you if someone has passed away, it’s best to avoid unwelcome reminders.
Get the Support You Need from Alzheimer’s Home Care Professionals
Being a caregiver is difficult, especially when you have other responsibilities, such as work or parenting. Avoiding actions or words that can trigger anger or upset is an important part of creating a supportive environment, but it takes so much more. From administering medications and providing personal care to cooking, cleaning, and companionship, Azheimer’s care is a full-time job.
While you want the best for your loved one, it’s not always possible to give 100%. That’s where Alzheimer’s home care comes in. At Saint George Home Health, we’re committed to helping families ensure the best for the seniors in their lives. We offer support and care in the areas where seniors need it most, whether that’s personal care, companionship, or memory support. Contact us today for a free consultation with a qualified nurse to determine if Saint George Home Health is the right fit for your family.
