Communications With Dementia: Touch vs Talk

Communications with dementia is more about emotions and touch

Communications can be improved with a simple touch of the hand or shoulder. When talking to your family member with dementia, make eye contact and reach out and touch them.

The person with dementia flourishes on human touch. They will react better to calm emotions than to reasoning.  Remember, that the “reasoner” is broken.

The section of the brain that regulates clear, logical, and consecutive thinking processes… has been destroyed. The dementia patient is unable to think in a normal way. They can, yet, respond to emotions.

The proper use of touch can convey warmth, acceptance, and caring. Touch can have the opposite impact on the paranoid or combative individual. Touch is usually accepted with the same spirit in which it was given.

Beware, when using touch with anyone who has a history of schizophrenia,  or other mental disorder. .

More Communications With Dementia :Touch vs Talk

Learn to practice mindful living. This will permit your to remain in control of your emotions. And not attempt to control your family member with dementia.

One might not be able to help how something makes us feel, but we can manage what we do, or how we manifest those feelings. A mindful approach to living can help to deal with those feelings and responses.

Those with dementia are not able to manage or control their behaviors. The centers of the brain responsible for logical thinking and decision-making are harmed. You, as the family caregiver,  do not have a  damaged brain. You can make a conscious effort to decide how you can control your emotions.

Caregiving is stressful. Work to focus on exactly what your family member with dementia could be experiencing. It is an excellent way to change your perceptions. And therefore your responses.

Take a step back when you are having a difficult time communicating and take a deep breath. Then ask, ”Why is this behavior occurring?” “What is causing this response?”

Is your family member becoming “challenging”? Try to think of their challenging behaviors as a forest fire.

In most worlds, it is important to work to control the environment to avoid the fire. So become an observer and discover ways to avoid negative behaviors.

Never try to attempt to control the actions of the dementia patient. It will only have negative and very challenging results.  Eye contact, a reassuring touch, and a smile make all the difference in the world.

Communications With Dementia Means learn to keep it simple

Developing a routine will make dementia home care will be considerably. Routines decrease the likelihood the dementia patient will become exasperated.

Getting dressed, bathing, and everyday tasks that were once easy… can now become very challenging. Tasks that involved many steps must now be broken down, to one step at a time.

You need to begin to use easy, straightforward commands. One command at a time works the best.

Right here’s an example: You can say …

“Put your shoes on and follow me,” while putting your hand out.

or, “Put your shoes on”.

Then when that task is completed… ask them to come with you, as you put your hand out for them to take.

Give step-by-step commands. It simplifies things for our family member with dementia. Do you see the distinction?

This is an easy, dementia home care approach that can save you both much aggravation. And decrease the tension in your home.

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