Dealing with dementia during (a day) of doing good

As a (corporate) volunteer, you and your colleagues might encounter people with dementia, for example during an activity in a residential care center. What can you do for people with a faltering brain or a diagnosis of dementia and how do you deal with it? 

The lady who might just stare while cooking together or that gentleman who wants to be taken on a walk to his home of old but lives in a care center. How do you respond to that?

Communication tips:

• Introduce yourself clearly, calmly and talk in short sentences. Use only one message in each sentence. And wait a moment until the other person has processed the text;
• Laugh with each other, use humor or sing together;
• Talk about the "news of the day. The "news of the day" is an easy topic to talk about. For example, talk about where you work, your pet or what you are going to do that day. Try to speak from yourself. For example, tell what you ate instead of asking the resident what they ate. This allows the other person to listen and connect if possible;
• Give compliments! It allows someone to feel like they can do something (still) well, and someone's self-esteem can grow as a result;
• Images of the past are more recognizable than images of today;
• Stimulate multiple senses. Let the other person smell or touch things so the person with dementia better understands what you mean or what something is;
• Draw attention when you want to say something. For example, make eye contact;
• Always leave the other person in his/her value;
• Try to put the other person at ease or distract him/her with another topic;
• Avoid correcting or contradicting. That confronts the person with dementia with what he no longer knows or can do. Don't ask too many questions or by having the children's names listed, for example. Closed questions can also be pleasant. Spring along with the situation;
• Also enjoy the unexpected when a conversation takes a surprising turn by an unexpectedly funny remark or spontaneous gesture;

Ask the activity supervisor:

• If you don't understand the behavior, ask the healthcare professional present at the activity;
• If the resident is in a wheelchair, always approach him/her from the front when facing and addressing them. You can also read wheelchair instructions here.

You can find much more information at dementia.com.

Many residents of care facilities receive few visits from family or friends. And because they are less mobile, it is physically (or mentally) difficult for them to go out on their own. Social isolation lurks. A dose of vitamin A from Attention will make you smile and improve your health. Not only is this healthy for the residents, volunteering is also good for your vitality. Your contribution (vitamin A of attention) is of great value. Moreover, it really is a lot of fun. Have fun together!

'You can feel free to tell me a secret (tomorrow I will have forgotten it anyway)'.