5 Things to Never Say to Someone with Alzheimer’s or Dementia
💜 1. Don’t tell them they are wrong about something.
💜 2. Don’t argue with them.
💜 3. Don’t ask if they remember something.
💜4. Don’t remind them that their spouse, parent or other loved one is dead.
💜 5. Don’t bring up topics that may upset them.
I can tell you…I’m a nurse and I’ve still had to learn some of these the HARD way!
# 4 – I’m just going to call it out. I will never forget the day, I gently reminded mom that dad had passed, she was asking over and over when he’d come home, we’d had the conversation before and I gave the honest answer, gently, just like I’d done before…
only this time it was different
It was like it was the first time she’d learned of it. The shock. The grief. It was awful.
I promised God, myself and my family right then and there, at that stoplight in Brentwood, that I would never do that to her again.
So you learn to say things like:
“I know you want to see him mom, I haven’t seen him today. When I see him, I’ll let him know you are looking for him.”
She usually looks back at me sweetly, looks relieved and just says “thank you”. That’s really all she needs. And we move on to another topic.
Note: these “5 Things” are excerpted from an article on “usagainstalzheimers.org”. Message me if you’d like the link and I’ll send it to you.
