Receiving the diagnosis that someone you love is dealing with dementia can be a life-changing moment. You care for your loved ones so deeply that it may be difficult knowing that their personality is likely to be changing over the next few years. While this may be a challenging time, it is important to offer your love and support even if your loved one will be dealing with memory loss challenges. Amidst this part of your life, you may be wondering how you will still be able to have a relationship and effectively bond with those who have dementia. Whether your loved one is at the very beginning, the middle, or the very end of this condition, there are multiple ways that you can still bond with them in a meaningful way and support them through this time of their life.
Offer Support Through Listening and Patience
While you may not be able to understand everything that your loved one is saying or going through, you are able to effectively bond with them though sympathizing with them. When you are truly listening to them, you are able to understand their feelings or worries a bit better as they navigate through this tough time. Patience will be the key to staying calm and loving through this challenging disease as it starts to take over. There is a good chance that as this disease progresses, your loved one finds it harder to be able to communicate. Reassure them and encourage them to carry them as you bond over listening and trying to understand one another.
Find a Quiet Space
Dealing with dementia can be overwhelming at times as your loved one is trying to navigate parts of the world they have forgotten. This time of forgetfulness can be frustrating and having so much going on at once can be overstimulating to those who suffer with dementia. When looking for ways to continue to effectively bond with your family member, consider finding quiet and secluded places that you are able to be with each one on one. Limiting the distraction around you can help bring peace, comfort, and control to these situations and conversations and can end up being quite beneficial and effective. When your loved one is able to focus on their thoughts and feelings, communication may be able to come more naturally as you enjoy this time together.
Be Positive and Respectful
It may be difficult to be positive all the time as you deal with feelings of sadness and frustration over your loved one with dementia. On the opposite side of that, your loved one may also feel so negatively when they do not have an understanding of what is happening to them and why they can’t remember. Hospice care Idaho Falls makes achieving positive and respectful interaction positive if your loved one has reached the point in their life when they are needing to receive hospice care. When you are able to be positive and respectful to those going through this specific circumstance, you open up the opportunity for them to feel loved and supported through this journey. That is the best way to be able to bond with them as they are dealing with these challenges in their life.