Hallucinations refer to sights, sounds, and smells that come from inside the brain. Hallucinations are common with Lewy Body Dementia but can happen with any dementia. The person with dementia is seeing, hearing, or smelling stuff that the rest of us are not experiencing. Illusions refer to mis-seeing (misperceiving) objects […]
An illusion is something that can be misinterpreted by your vision or or hearing. Hallucinations, on the other hand, involve hearing, seeing, or feeling something that is not there. Delusions are false beliefs usually arising from fears.
The 10 Commandments of Dementia Caregiving
The asking of the questions is a process; we are providing an opportunity to really find out what the other person is thinking. On one hand, we want to protect our loved ones from financial abuse or unsafe conditions. On the other hand, we want to respect their autonomy….their ability to make their own decisions.
Many people confuse dementia with Alzheimer’s Disease. A person with Alzheimer’s has dementia. A person with dementia does not always have Alzheimer’s Disease.
I explain how the shrinking brain causes many of the repetitive questions and behaviors that caregivers find frustrating.
Avoid quizzing the person with dementia. Logic does not work. Arguing does not work.
Dementia-Centric Communication Dementia-centric communication is the ability to interact with people who have dementia in a respectful and meaningful way. I hear, over and over again, “I don’t know what to say to a person with dementia.” “What if I do something wrong?” Fear not, I am here to help […]
Frontotemporal Dementia & The Jerk Factor When I say “dementia,” most people think “Alzheimer’s Disease.” The truth is that in people under 65, the more common dementia is “frontotemporal dementia” for FTD. FTD refers to a spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases that include behavioral, motor, and/or speech symptoms. The one I am talking […]
Think of “Entering Their Reality” as a gentle and kind approach to delivering truth with dignity