Elder Care: How Best to Communicate With a Senior Who Has Dementia
Elder care can help a senior with dementia with everyday life, but they can also help a family cope with the loved one’s disease.
A big part of elder care is developing a care plan and keeping the family involved. This is a disease that will affect the senior and the ones closest to the senior. Learning to communicate with a senior with dementia can be difficult and challenging. Some family members may not understand or get frustrated, but it is crucial to maintain a level-head.
Caregiver in Bala Cynwyd PA: Dementia
An elder care associate will help you understand the disease, the progression, and what stage your loved one is in. Based on this information, they will also help you handle your emotions and teach you how best to talk to someone with dementia. Communicating may seem like it is an easy task, but the more the disease progresses, the harder it can be to communicate with your loved one.
When a person has dementia, not all behaviors will make sense, and some of them can be frustrating for you to understand. This is a progressive brain disorder that can make things confusing for a senior who struggles with dementia. In severe cases, a senior’s personality may even change, which can be confusing for a family to deal with.
Tips for Communicating to Seniors with Dementia
The better you can communicate to a senior with dementia, the easier it will be to handle negative behavior. These behaviors may seem startling at first, but it will be important to communicate effectively to a senior during these times. Elder care will help with any outbursts, but it will be important to understand how to de-escalate the situation and help soothe a senior.
Think Positive
Even people with dementia can read body language easier than you think. If you come in with a happy and positive attitude, things will go much easier. Use a happy facial expression, a light tone, and keep it up during the full conversation.
Simple Words
Keeping the message straightforward is one of the best ways to ensure things don’t get confused. Using big words may be too confusing, or using words they don’t remember can lead to agitation. Ask simple questions and use visual representations to help the connections.
Be Patient
A senior may not remember what they want to say or forget things in the middle of what they are saying. It is important to keep calm and comfort them. Encourage them to try again but do not pressure them. Listen with your eyes and open heart.
Elder Care: Have a Good Sense of Humor
Even if someone cannot remember you, most seniors will still have social skills. Find funny jokes that both of you can laugh along to, and always keep a good sense of humor when it gets hard.
There will be times it will be harder for you to communicate with your loved one, but that is when elder care assistance can come in handy. They will help you fill in the gaps and direct the situation back to safe ground.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elder Care in Bala Cynwyd, PA,, please contact the friendly staff at Suma Home Care. (484) 206-4544
Ibrahim recently completed a Professional Certificate in Management; He is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administrations (MBA) at a prestigious university in the UK.
With their passion for helping others and a strong background in customer services and clinical care, Ibrahim and his wife started assisting individuals in their homes.
Since started and operating Suma Home Care in 2010 in the basement of their home, Suma Home Care has provided professionals who work endlessly in providing clients with the highest quality of care, while enabling clients to maintain dignity, comfort and safety in their homes.
Suma Home Care, serves four counties in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia. Ibrahim is firmly connected to his local community and is always looking for ways to give back whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Ibrahim enjoys spending time with his wife and children, travelling and enjoys sports.
Mariama Suma-Keita BSN RN
Born in Sierra Leone west Africa, relocated to America in 1999 from a civil war and settled since in the U.S.A as a Naturalized citizen Graduated from National school of nursing with an associate , and completed BSN in Nursing from Immaculata University graduated with Honor roll Alpha Lambda sigma, After escaping the war served as a refugee nurse in Gambia and Guinea to other displaced refugees before coming to America.
In the states started in Homecare then then transition into hospital, worked in Jefferson hospital as a Registered nurse on Tele and general medsurg floor, also worked in Einstein hospital as an oncology transplant nurse , I realized that I enjoy working with patients so much and believe in quality and compassionate care one at a time dealing with an holistic approach in caring for patients and family in a familiar environment called home , I see the impact and progress when they’re home , it makes them feel relax and progress fast with recovering at home. As a nurse and entrepreneur I understand that dedication to meeting people and families needs is a priority, and able to foster relationships with family and patients that is professional and friendly to help them stay and settled home as a desire.
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