Caring for Someone With Dementia Without Losing Your Mind
“What’s the time now?” You’ve answered that same question heaps of times. Should you ignore it this time? Should you just patiently answer it again? Or should you just finally let out your pent-up anger? If you’ve cared for someone with dementia, you may have had such episodes. Perhaps your mother insists that she needs to go home that home no longer exists. Maybe your father keeps accusing you of taking his things that he himself misplaced. After having such experiences more times than you can endure, you may lose your temper. Then comes the guilt. I shouldn't have shouted. I should be more patient. But is telling yourself to “be more patient” actually going to solve the problem? Probably not. Because caring for someone with dementia isn't simply a test of your patience. It is a test of your understanding of yourself and them. Why Are They So Unreasonable? The most important thing to understand is that a person with dementia cannot mentally function as they could b...