“Can you tell me?”
“What would you like to know?”
With Dementia we often will be asked the same questions every shift or 10 times every shift.
I find the more confused a client is the more they can loop around a similarity.
“When is my friend Felicia coming?”
“We called. She’s on her way?”
“You know I’d really appreciate if you would call Felicia to find out when she’s coming.”
“We just called her.”
“I would remember if we just called Felicia. Call her”
“Let’s wait a minute I think she’s on her way…”
For family members these loops can seem frustrating.
I try to redirect my client’s focus sometimes it works while other times it just makes a client more frustrated.
So for the explanations keep them simple. Sometimes those questions are asked as our family is trying to get a grip on the last edge of reality.
How do you deal with frustration during Co-Vid Days????
Image attribution: Pablo Picasso “The Woman with Mustard Pot” 1910
I had once read a book from the pov of a family member of someone with dementia. I just thought of that. Another friend has just taken out one…Dancing with Dementia that I plan to read after A to Z
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It must be very frustrating answering those questions over and over again. I am looking after someone recovering from surgery in a time of Corona Virus and finding it difficult to keep his spirits up. At least there is hope for recovery unlike with dementia.
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Hats off to all those who work with the elderly as their carers and care-givers.
Just last night, I watched an episode of After Life on Netflix which showed the son, played by Ricky Gervais, struggling with his father’s dementia while the nurse who’s in charge was able to see the lighter side of it. Dedication and humility and a big helping of humour was evident in the way the nurse handled the situation.
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Would love to know more on this. An uncle is currently suffering from dementia and I know his family members are extremely frustrated at the moment.
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It is a bit frustrating to repeat things regularly but my wife helps me to be kind and be understanding.
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Sounds like you handle it well.
An A-Z of Faerie: Fates
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