Ways To Practice Patience When Caring For A Loved One With Dementia

When you have a loved one who has been diagnosed as having dementia, it's beneficial to find him or her a room in a facility that provides care for such issues. In this environment, your family member will receive the care that he or she needs, which will help to relieve you from the exhausting care that you may have been giving. When you visit your loved one, it's important for you to be as patient as possible. There's little question that a family member with dementia can try your patience — you're likely already stressed about the situation and caring for such people can be a challenge. Here are some ways to practice patience with your loved one.

Don't Finish Sentences

Some dementia patients will have trouble finding the words they wish to use, which can lead to lengthy pauses in the middle of sentences. You may feel a little frustrated with these pauses, which could compel you to offer the words that your loved one needs. While doing so occasionally can be helpful, a habit of always finishing his or her sentences may potentially upset the person — which could make the entire visit uncomfortable. Do your best to take a breath and allow the person the time to find the words he or she wishes to use.

Be OK With Hearing Stories Repeated

Many people with dementia will develop a habit of repeating themselves. You may begin to notice that your loved one tells you the same stories over and over, which may initially annoy you. This can especially be the case if the person gets some of the details wrong, and you may feel like correcting him or her. Snapping at the person and saying that he or she has already told you these stories will only cause feelings to be hurt. You should work to accept that you'll likely hear some things repeated during each visit and exercise patience during these moments.

Accept The New Changes

You'll see a variety of changes in your loved one as his or her dementia progresses. Many of these changes will be difficult to accept, but you should always show patience about them. For example, your family member may frequently be unprepared for your visits, even if you called in advance to say you were coming. Instead of berating him or her, you need to be gentle and patient and understand that this behavior is normal.

For more information, you will want to contact a company such as Brain Matters Research.