A caregiver's husband with dementia started yelling at her across the room, calling her a liar. She calmly said, "I know, honey. I'm sorry." Asked later how she stays so calm: "That's not him."
Four sentences slip out of almost every caregiver's mouth, and all four ask a brain to do something it can no longer do. Here's what's happening underneath each one, the words I'd say in their place, and why there is no single right answer for your loved one.
Hey Mom, do you remember who this is? It sounds harmless. It is really a test your loved one is set up to fail. That is one of six habits I see loving Careblazers fall into every day, and here is what I would say in place of each one.
When your loved one with dementia goes quiet after a question, repeating it or answering for them shuts down the road while they're still driving on it. Four ways to give their brain time.
"You're treating me like a child." You may hear it when you take the keys. But if they fully understood, they wouldn't need you. Your standard is safety, not their constant smiles.
Ever tried to explain something to your loved one with dementia, only to have it backfire? Discover the #1 communication mistake most caregivers make — and a powerful mindset shift that will change everything. In this post, Dr. Natali Edmonds shares real stories, expert insight, and practical strategies to help you stop the stress and start connecting.
Reminding your loved one they have dementia tells them it has no cure and they can't do what they want anymore. I don't know anybody who'd feel better after hearing that.
"It's time to eat, let's go" works better than a long question. Five simple ways to communicate with a loved one with dementia, from showing the toothbrush to counting to 10 before you jump in.
One wife was sure telling the family about her husband's dementia would hurt their relationships. It strengthened them instead. Sharing a diagnosis isn't right for everyone, and you decide who hears it.
Imagine knowing exactly what you want to say, and when you open your mouth, it won't come out. That's expressive aphasia. My biggest recommendation is a speech therapy evaluation, which families often have to request
Mom is sure someone is breaking in to steal her remote control. Telling her nobody is after her won't help. It's not about making sense in your world, it's about making sense in hers.
Even "I love you" can scare your loved one with dementia if it comes out tense. Five tips other caregivers use, from offering two choices to lowering your pitch so they can hear you.
