💡 Thought of the Week

For the most part, we don’t want to correct someone with dementia. Doing so can hurt our relationship with them and make them less likely to accept our help in the future. And in the long run, that makes caregiving much harder for everyone involved.

However, there are two exceptions to this rule.

1. When safety is at risk

If there’s serious danger in what your loved one is doing, step in right away.
For example, if they’re about to pull a hot pan out of the oven without oven mitts, you’d want to stop them immediately.

Ideally, you wouldn’t correct them by saying they’re wrong. Instead, you could quickly call their name or say “stop,” then gently add, “Here, I forgot to give you these. Put them on first.” and hand them the oven mitts.

Notice how you kept them safe without making them feel bad.

2. When they’re upset or frustrated

If what they’re doing is causing distress, step in but gently.
Let’s say your loved one is working on a puzzle and has several pieces turned the wrong way. If they seem content, let them continue. There’s no harm in it.

But if they’re getting upset because the puzzle isn’t coming together, that’s your cue to help. Instead of pointing out what’s wrong, you could say, “That puzzle gave me trouble too. Here, let’s try this.” Then assist with a few pieces.

These small shifts help you protect their dignity while keeping your connection strong.