The facts prefer to participate in conversation having a parent with dementia? I have been learning the language of affection with my 85-year-old mother who had been identified as having early dementia about 2 months after she fell on her behalf back on her behalf concrete driveway. As much as time she fell, that was about 2 ½ in years past, my mother was highly functioning and very active, e-mailing well past midnight. We spoke a couple of times per week.
Following the fall (sounds Biblical right?), that was related to simply tripping, to not a TIA or perhaps a stroke, my mother was unable to do daily tasks independently. She would never know what day's the week it had been or how you can count backward from 100 by 3s-standard questions doctors ask to assess brain functioning. We have now speak daily.
Like a curious person It's my job to enter conversations wondering concerning the body else: Who they may be, the things they think, that they approach situations. Like a coach my type of engagement with clients is asking them questions. I figure all this out about people using questions since the doorway. For that first many months after my mom's diagnosis I struggled with the proper way to participate in conversations with her. Our once or twice weekly calls centered on each of our respective activities. Now my mom couldn't remember what she ate or if she ate. I needed to learn a different way to connect.
I made the following changes:
Created ritual
Call-at approximately the same time each day
Offer her the same blessing during each call-She offers me one in response
Ask questions that are embedded in statements to which she responds
Validate whatever she says, responding with "Yes" or "That's OK"
Our conversations are short, lively, funny and full of love.
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