What Tin Harvey Learn Us Well-Nigh Communicating Amongst Persons Liviing Amongst Dementia

Learning a novel agency of communicating amongst the somebody amongst dementia is non easy. But practicing these changes, fleck past times fleck over time, tin reap corking rewards for both the somebody amongst dementia together with the caregiver.

By Monica Heltemes

Monica Heltemes

I watched the video of Bob’s mother, Dotty, together with Harvey, the repeat parrot, interacting amongst each other, amongst fascination.

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Their “conversations” seemed hence tardily together with natural, which is oft non the representative when communicating amongst the somebody amongst dementia.

I viewed their conversation through my occupational therapy lens, analyzing what worked together with why it worked.

I intend the communication successes I noted betwixt Dotty together with Harvey bring lessons that nosotros tin larn from inward our ain communication amongst the somebody amongst dementia – amongst or without the parrot.

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In the moment

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 somebody talking amongst Dotty would probable verbalise near 1 topic together with hence movement onto some other topic. That is normal conversation for you lot together with I – inward fact nosotros in all likelihood perish annoyed past times a somebody who continues to verbalise on the same topic over together with over!

However, Harvey is “in the moment” amongst Dotty. Dotty says something, Harvey repeats it back. They are on the same idea together for every bit long every bit Dotty wants to remain on that thought.

To Dotty, this seems reassuring. Harvey is on her level, sticking amongst her thoughts inward the moment. Dotty is leading this “conversation” – which is ordinarily non the representative for the somebody amongst dementia.

No questions asked

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 somebody conversing amongst Dotty would inevitably inquire Dotty a question. “Are you lot hungry?”, “Do you lot desire to sit down outside”, etc.

The somebody amongst dementia does non practice good amongst existence asked questions, every bit they may non know how to reply or may non sympathise the question. You powerfulness listen a lot of “that’s fine”, “whatever you lot think”, or “NO”.

Unknowingly to us, these all may hold out inaccurate answers. They are merely rote answers that are at to the lowest degree some form of response. Harvey does non inquire questions, hence never puts Dotty on the location to perform (i.e. brand a response).

Validation

Harvey hears what Dotty has to state together with and hence repeats it, providing validation to Dotty that what she said was heard together with known.

This is hence of import to people amongst dementia, hence that fifty-fifty if what the somebody says does non brand feel to you lot or I, it is nevertheless validated every bit is together with non corrected. This makes the somebody experience secure together with avoids frustration of non existence understood. There is a whole attention technique built to a greater extent than or less this, called Validation Therapy developed past times Naomi Feil, MSW, ACSW.

Learning a novel agency of communicating amongst the somebody amongst dementia is non easy. But practicing these changes, fleck past times fleck over time, tin reap corking rewards for both the somebody amongst dementia together with the caregiver.

Thanks to Harvey for showing us how to state merely the right thing.

Monica Heltemes is a practicing occupational therapist together with possessor of MindStart™. MindStart designs hobby-style items, such every bit games together with puzzles, specifically for persons amongst retentiveness loss. They maintain persons amongst dementia active, piece giving back upward to caregivers, together with are quick together with tardily to use. Visit MindStart (Activities for Persons amongst Memory Loss) to larn more.