Dementia

I'm a recreational therapist. I actually work with dementia residents all the time. The best thing you could do is when they're looking for like their father, their mother, whoever, or they're just in a different time zone, is to step into that time with them and ask them questions like, oh, you're looking for your son? How old is he? Or oh, you're cleaning the kitchen when they're like really just sitting there. Tell me about the kitchen. Which cleaner should I use? Really stepping into their reality validates them and brings them so much more peace. And it makes your life easier too, because you're not trying to correct them. You're just loving them.

People with dementia go along a very lonely road. They can't remember things. They can't sense the environment they're in. They forget their words. They have behaviour issues. The best way for encouragement is to go along their story. This is their chapter in their life and to make it as comfortable and understanding as possible. If they forget what they're saying, then that's fine. If they call you somebody else's name, that's fine too. Just make them realise that they're still welcome in this world and treat them in their own character and just go along the lonely road with them and just guide them and keep them safe. That's all you can do.

The way you can support someone with dementia is keeping them safe. Make sure they're in a secure environment. Get help, speak to your GP, speak to a social worker, see in the best way you can deal with this. Dementia is a condition where somebody's life is, it's, they could live like this for years and years and years. One never knows with dementia. But you have to understand that that person is living a lonely life. They're in a world that they're not aware of. So the only advice I can give you is be their friend. If it's your spouse, then be an even better friend. Just be there for them.