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How Do You Deal With a Memory Care Patient?

Caring for memory care patients comes with many challenges. The patient’s ability to understand you and do routine tasks will deteriorate as their condition progresses. Facilities like Bader House of Georgetown Memory Care are designed to help patients with memory issues lead comfortable lives. They offer patients a comfortable environment to navigate their challenges. 

Tips for Dealing with a Memory Care Patient

Handling patients with memory care is not an easy task. Each patient comes with their own requirements, and you need to respond to those requirements. Below are some tips on dealing with a memory care patient. 

Communication

Communicating with a memory care patient can sometimes be challenging as they may not understand everything we say. Below are a few tips on how to communicate with memory care patients:

Try to Catch the Patient’s Attention

Memory care patients can get easily distracted. Limit the distractions around them. Turn off the TV or radio, close the doors or curtains, or take the patient to a quieter place. Ensure you have the patients’ attention before speaking to them. Address the patient by their name, identify yourself by name, and try to use non-verbal clues to keep the patient focused. If the patient is seated, get down to their level and maintain eye contact while speaking.

Be Clear in your Message

Memory care patients cannot understand complicated words and sentences. Use small sentences and simple words. Speak slowly, and use a reassuring tone. Avoid speaking loudly or raising your voice. Most patients may not understand you the first time. Repeat the same message slowly. If the patient still doesn’t understand, you can rephrase the question and ask again after a few minutes. 

Ask Simple Questions

Memory care patients are like children. They may not be able to comprehend too many questions at once. Ask one question at a time, and keep the questions small. Questions with yes or no answers work best. If you can, show them their choices and use visual prompts to help them answer better.

Break Down Their Activities

Breaking down activities into smaller and simpler tasks will help memory care patients understand them better. Encourage the patient every step of the way. Some patients may forget what needs to be done. Remind them gently. Use visual cues and show them what needs to be done.

Reducing Frustrations

Memory care patients tend to get frustrated easily because of their difficulty in remembering and doing routine things. Follow the below steps to help ease frustrations and calm the patient down:

Schedule Tasks Wisely

One way of handling the frustrations of memory care patients is to set a routine. Schedule tasks as per their moods. Simple tasks like bathing can be set up when they are alert. Be flexible and set some time aside for spontaneous tasks on difficult days.

Involve the Person

Try and let the patient do as much as possible with little intervention. The patient’s confidence and mood will improve when they can do something on their own. Provide visual cues as much as possible so that they can do simple tasks by themselves.

Give Choices

Give the patient a few choices when deciding on the tasks to do for the day. But limit your choices to two or three. Too many choices will confuse the patients. Let the patient choose the clothes they will wear on a particular day, ask them if they want a cold or hot beverage, or ask them if they want to go for a walk or just sit and watch a movie.

Creating a Safe Environment

Memory care patients cannot judge situations accurately and often lack problem-solving skills. This increases their risk of accidents and injuries. You can take the following steps to create a safe environment for them:

Prevent Falls

Ensure a memory care patient’s path is clear of any obstacles. Remove rugs, pillows, extension cords or wires, or anything else that could risk them falling. Install grab bars and handrails wherever possible for them to take support and walk around.

Use Locks

Lock cabinets and cupboards that have potentially dangerous items like alcohol, medication, guns, dangerous utensils, toxic cleaning detergents and soaps, and other tools. Patients with memory issues may not understand that these are dangerous and can harm themselves in their attempt to use them.

Take Fire Safety Precautions

Ensure you keep anything related to fire out of reach of memory care patients. If the patient smokes, supervise the smoking. Keep a fire extinguisher close by and have carbon monoxide detectors with fresh batteries installed at various places.

Every memory care patient has its own unique requirements and limitations. You can care for them and understand their needs with a little patience and compassion. 

Christopher Stern

Christopher Stern is a Washington-based reporter. Chris spent many years covering tech policy as a business reporter for renowned publications. He is a graduate of Middlebury College. Contact us:-[email protected]

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