Don’t be dismissive
An example could be the person thinking that characters in a TV show are in their house. They may not want the ‘unwanted guests’ in their home and may ask for them to leave. Rather than tell the person the ‘guests’ aren’t real and are characters from a TV show, say you will get them to go. Then turn the TV off. Let the person know the situation has been resolved.
Don’t watch the news
Avoid sharing bad news or your own daily stresses with the person. If possible, avoid having the news on, as you don’t want the person to be subjected to bad news. Unless they ask to see the news, avoid it if you can. They may hear upsetting stories, forget they’ve heard them, and hear them ‘for the first time’ every hour or so, which can be repeatedly upsetting.
Help the person embrace friendships
While it’s natural to focus on caring for the person, it’s also crucial to help them lead a meaningful life if you can. While dementia is a progressive condition, in the earlier stages, the person may want to be as independent and busy as possible.
Despite their diagnosis, they are still the same person, and like most of us, they will want to get on and do things. Empower the person to do as much for themselves as they can. If they want to maintain hobbies like exercise or classes, support them in doing so.
Help them to maintain friendships. Imagine how you would feel if your social circle kept shrinking. This can easily happen to a person with dementia. Friends and relatives may not know how to handle their dementia, and sadly some may retreat. Try to help the person maintain a social life and interact with friends and loved ones who want to keep on seeing them.
Take the person out to local groups and community events. Support them to be as active as possible.
Stick to a regular routine
A routine is an excellent way to support a person with dementia. They will find it comforting and reassuring. However, a person with dementia may not cope well with change. So, when their routine changes during holidays such as Christmas, for instance, they may find it stressful. Different mealtimes and people coming and going can cause confusion and sometimes lead to distress or upset.
Try to follow the person’s daily routine. Help them get up at the same time (unless they have chosen to have a lie-in) and be consistent with their mealtimes.
Offer praise when you can
Remember that praise can go a long way. A person with dementia may suffer from a loss of confidence. They may feel frustrated that they can’t remember things or say what they want to say. They may feel like they don’t have much to contribute, so when they achieve something, offer them praise.
Invite the person’s opinion
Ask for their opinion on things, even if you don’t need it. It will make the person feel like they have something valuable to contribute.
If the person is feeling low and saying negative things, say you understand how they feel, but then try to make the conversation more upbeat. Change the subject if you have to or distract the person with the offer of a drink or a snack.
Always try to put yourself in the person’s shoes and consider what support would make a difference to them in their situation.