People with dementia sometimes experience challenging behaviors that may be hard for family caregivers to know how to handle. Redirection is a common tool professional caregivers use to address agitation, wandering, and other common signs of frustration. Directing your senior loved one’s attention to more acceptable thoughts and actions can enhance your relationship and your loved one’s overall wellbeing. Try using these redirection techniques that can help you provide your loved one with the care he or she needs to maintain a positive attitude throughout the day.
Offer Simple Reassurance
Sometimes, someone with dementia might express worry about an event that isn’t a true emergency or actually happening. For instance, your loved one might get genuinely upset out of concern that his or her deceased spouse isn’t home yet. In this type of situation, reminding your loved one that his or her spouse is no longer coming home might only upset your loved one more. Instead, you might say you’re sure you’d have heard something if your loved one’s spouse needed help and suggest doing an activity to stay busy.
Dementia can be challenging for seniors to manage, but they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional dementia day care provided by Companioa by IOA. Our social day program for individuals with dementia features tailored cognitive activities, group exercises, social engagement, and opportunities for artistic expression in a vibrant, modern setting, and our certified dementia care staff ensures your loved one’s safety in a supportive environment.
Suggest a Change of Scenery
Bright lights, loud noises, and other sensory experiences can sometimes be too much for a person with dementia to handle all at once. If your loved one exhibits agitation at home, you might be able to change the environment by turning down the lights or moving to another room. If you’re out in public, try asking if your loved one would like to step outside. Or you might be able to move to a quieter area of a building to refresh your parent or loved one’s mindset.
Ask for Help with a Soothing Task
As a family caregiver, you might notice your loved one’s challenging behaviors tend to escalate when you’re trying to clean up or do other essential chores. If this is the case, try looking for a way your loved one can help. Some seniors enjoy the repetitive nature of folding towels or sorting socks. Even if they don’t do the job correctly, they’ll feel a sense of accomplishment.
Play Transitional Music or Sounds
If your loved one with dementia tends to have difficulty moving from one activity to another, you can help by using physical cues. Playing a favorite song is a great way to make bathing more enjoyable. Or you might use a silly sound such as a duck quacking to remind your loved one that it’s time to take medication. Adding fun signals into your daily routine can transform even the most challenging activity into a special moment for your loved one.
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Give Your Loved One Choices
A senior who refuses to do a task might be grasping for some sense of control. Instead of arguing back and forth, try giving your loved one two choices. For instance, you might ask your loved one if he or she would like to wear the blue sneakers or the white ones. Just make sure both choices you offer are acceptable, and your loved one will be less likely to balk at your suggestion to get dressed or handle other essential tasks.
Even when families have the best intentions, caring for a senior loved one with dementia can be challenging. Fortunately, Companioa by IOA is here to help. Our social day program for dementia offers a modern, safe, and supportive environment while providing much-needed respite for family caregivers. Seniors in our day program enjoy daily group exercise, mental stimulation, opportunities for artistic expression, personalized assistance, and homemade meals made with fresh ingredients. We go beyond cognitive and physical care, fostering belonging and purpose that allows seniors with dementia to flourish with dignity and respect. Call one of our Connect Specialists today at (415) 750-4111 to learn more about our comprehensive dementia care services.