One of the things that often happens with people who have dementia is repeated questioning. This is caused by the deterioration that is happening in the brain. If your elderly loved one is experiencing this, it can be tough on them. However, if the disease is more advanced, your loved one might not even know they are doing it. If your elderly loved one is questioning everything, there are some things that you can do.
Staying Patient and Calm
Having your elderly loved one repeat questions over and over can be frustrating. It can be difficult to keep your composure. However, it is important to remember they aren’t doing this on purpose. Your elderly loved one’s short-term memory is slipping. They might not remember they just asked you the same question. Try to keep this in mind. By doing so, it can help you to stay more patient and calm.
Using Gestures and Proper Posture
If your elderly loved one is asking the same questions, it might be because they didn’t understand the answer you or the home care provider gave the first time. One of the things that might be helpful is to use gestures and the proper posture. Sometimes, people with dementia understand things better through non-verbal communication.
Focusing on Emotions and Not Behaviors
It can be tough having your elderly loved one ask questions over and over, especially when they keep asking the same things. However, it is important to remember that they aren’t doing it on purpose. You shouldn’t focus on the behavior which is the repetitive questioning. Instead, you should focus on how your elderly loved one is feeling.
Write it Down
Sometimes, it might be necessary for you to write down the answer. For instance, if your elderly loved one keeps asking you for a family member’s phone number, they might just keep forgetting it. In situations like these, it might be helpful if you just write it down. This may prevent some of the repetitive questionings.
Conclusion
Does your elderly loved one keep questioning everything? This can be tough on everyone. It might be tough to keep your composure. However, if you follow the above-noted tips, it can help you to handle this issue.
If you have tried these things and you still can’t keep calm, it might be best to have home care providers take over for the time being. This way, you can have a break. Later on, if you want to come back and care for your elderly loved one, you might be more calm.
Sources
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/frequently-asked-questions-about-alzheimers-disease
If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring home care in Santa Clara, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers today (408) 317-4969.