Volume 1; Issue 4
September 11, 2009

Welcome to the next issue of The Dementia Caregiving Encourager. Thank you for joining us!

As I (Paula) typed the date for this issue I was reminded of that terrible day eight years ago when America was attacked. I watched the news coverage for days and suffered from intense sadness and depression for months afterward.

Last year 9/11 came and went and I barely gave it a passing thought. At the time Mom was in the hospital and was not doing well at all. She passed away on September 18, 2008.

This year 9/11 reminds me of the sadness of that day all those years ago along with the upcoming anniversary of my Mother’s death.

If you find yourself experiencing sadness while caring for your loved one may we encourage you to find someone to talk to? Join a support group, get counseling, send us a note. Dementia caregiving can be a sad experience. Don’t try to go through it alone.

If you have any comments or suggestions for The Dementia Caregiving Encourager please contact us. We love to hear from our readers.

Blessings!
Paula Farris & Lanette Stultz
http://www.DementiaCaregiving101.com

Minimizing Confusion—A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place

When decorating think minimal. Simple, clean, bright, uncluttered. Pare down collections to just a few items, remove unnecessary furniture, clean out closets and drawers. The fewer things you have to take care of the more time you will have free to provide the care your loved one needs.

Practice the “One thing Rule”—one thing at a time, one thing in sight. As the dementia patient is getting dressed, for example, hand them their pants. When they have those on correctly hand them their shirt. Even hand them one sock and one shoe at a time.

When it is time for them to brush their teeth leave only their toothbrush with toothpaste on it on the bathroom counter. This will help them to focus on the task that needs to be done and eliminate the need for them to choose between the comb and the toothbrush to do the job.

Break down everything into simple steps. Saying, “Mom, get ready to go to your doctor appointment,” will probably result in Mom doing nothing or possibly doing something totally unrelated to getting ready to go somewhere. Dementia patients lose the ability to sort through all the steps necessary to complete a complex task.

Try, instead, to say, “Mom, we are going to the doctor now. Turn off the TV.” Then when that is completed say, “Put on your coat.” And on and on until she is ready to walk out the door.

This may seem to be more time consuming, but when you consider that leaving her on her own could cause you to not only need to get her ready to go, but also to have undo whatever she may have done to get herself ready. The time you spend to help her move through each step will save you time.

Use signs with pictures on them to remind your loved one where things are or where things belong. Having a large picture of a toilet on the door of the bathroom makes it easy to identify. Putting a picture of a pair of eyeglasses on the basket where Dad’s reading glasses belong will help him to return them to the right place when he is finished with them.

Don’t take their behavior personally. Dementia patients aren’t slow and forgetful to annoy you. They don’t lose the TV remote over and over again on purpose. Take your time and exercise patience when dealing with them. This will make your relationship less stressed and more rewarding.

Activity Idea

Use large pieces of construction paper or poster board and a contrasting color for the item. If the sign will hang on a light colored door then use a dark colored paper for the background.

To avoid confusion, try to use a color as close to the color of the actual item as possible. For example, use white paper to make the picture of the toilet.

Draw the outline of the item and then cut it out. Use glue to attach it to the background. Write the name of the item below the picture. Have the signs laminated if desired. Then attach the signs securely to the door or place them where they belong.

The dementia patient can help with the gluing process, but allow for mistakes. Enjoy the time spent together and don’t be concerned with perfection.

Thanks for Joining Us!

We look forward to visiting with you again soon.