10 Tips for Approaching Someone with Alzheimer̢۪s

Approaching a person with Alzheimer’s is difficult and needs to be done with care and compassion.  Most people don’t know what to say or how to act when appraching anyone that may or may not know who they are.  Sometimes this causes people to stop visiting their family members with Alzheimer’s.  

When an elderly person has <a href=”http://www.championhomecare.com”>Alzheimer’s</a>, they do not have the ability to comprehend what is going on.  First of all, the person might not remember the people closest to them.  It can be very difficult for a family member to hear “Who are you?” when they visit their mom, dad, or grandparents.

Here are some pointers for visiting a family member with Alzheimer’s:
1.    Go slow – wait until they notice you before approaching them.
2.    Make eye contact – Alzheimer’s patients need to see the person prior to talking to them.
3.    Sit beside them – Positioning yourself in front of someone with Alzheimer’s can cause them to feel threatened when they become disoriented.
4.    Greet them by name and state your relationship – They may be confused at first then be able to confirm that they know who you are.
5.    Keep questions simple – be patient and wait for a response.  If the response doesn’t come, rephrase the question or ask something differently.
6.    Refrain from saying “remember when?” – Rather, start with “I remember when” that way the conversation is about feelings rather than past events.
7.    Bring Supplies – Sometimes they have difficulty conversing so bring along pictures, letters, or trinkets to spark the conversation.
8.    Talk about the past – Alzheimer’s patients are more likely to loose track of recent events and remember past stories.
9.    Limit amount of family members – They may get confused if many family members are present especially young kids.
10.    Be happy – It makes it easy for an Alzheimer’s patient to respond if you smile.

Alzheimer’s patients like having visitors, especially elderly people who were social before they became ill.  Do not get frustrated if they are unable remember much.  Instead, focus on spending time together.  It takes time and practice for someone with Alzheimer’s to feel comfortable without getting confused by visitors.  Keep in mind, it is the Alzheimer’s causing this and to not take it personally if they don’t remember.

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