I don’t hold a Ph.d in dementia, but I do have nearly a decade of beyond full-time experience as one who has taken care of someone night and day with dementia.

The other day I spotted someone who clearly seems to have dementia, but it is undiagnosed and others don’t see it.  And I wanted to shout to everyone that she has dementia and because of it she needs to be treated with a different set of rules:

  • When they have wild delusions, don’t tell them those aren’t true as that triggers massive stress from not being believed.  Just acknowledge the delusions and move on
  • Schedules are maximum stress.  Don’t involve them and let caregivers handle that
  • They want to please everyone so be very very very careful with correction or things that come across as discipline.  They need voluminous affirmation.

The rules are different with those with dementia.  I just wish more could understand and hear from those who have walked this road.