How to Respond to Dementia-Related Psychosis
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Video Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Remember, that this is because of the dementia. It's not because of you. And because if you start becoming upset about this and arguing back or become visibly frustrated, this will not help. It'll definitely make the episode to continue going or make things worse, and make the person more angry or more anxious or more frustrated.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Always listen and validate their feelings, which can be pretty hard. Because sometimes this can be pretty repetitive that they bring the same topic over and over. For example, saying, I hear that you're upset about this. And I know that this is very frustrating for you.
But that I really want to hear what you're saying. And I really need to make dinner. So how about we talk about this after dinner? And how about you help me wash the potatoes for dinner? So what I did that right there was, I hear what you're saying, you validate. I can hear that you're frustrated. And then you try to divert or change the attention to something else. That the other person doesn't feel that because you're trying to change activity is because you're minimizing how they're feeling. But at the same time, you are trying to change the topic or to engage them in activity that is more calming.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
This might be actually a good opportunity to get to know a little bit about the time in their life. So, Oh really, they're going to go pick up the kids? How are you going to do that? Oh well, I like to walk down this. Or I take the truck and drive over to this place, pick up some groceries, and then go get them from school. So you might actually not have known that before they picked you up from school, used to help get some groceries, or things like that, like travel a little bit in time with them.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
The situation is very real for the person. And that might be very hurtful or frustrating and make things worse. So if they tell you that they just saw their mother in the kitchen and you kind of minimize what they just said of like, Oh, no no. Your mom has been dead for 20 years. That might be very confusing, distressing for them and in some cases, maybe even wake up call that grief that they had from the past, which will make things worse.
But if you kind of just roll with it, or Oh really, and what did she say, things like that. Or Oh really, Oh well, that's very nice. How come how about you come and help me with folding this laundry-- again, changing topic of conversation.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Using music or activities that they enjoy, going out for a walk or keeping them engaged in an activity, come out changing that setting in which they are and their hallucinations, or the symptoms that they're having.
PATRICIA ANDREWS
First of all, try to stay calm, and tell yourself this is not this is not personal. This is the dementia talking. It may happen that the person with dementia starts bringing up an argument they had 20 years ago. And this can be pretty painful for the loved one that's taking care of them. Remember, that this is because of the dementia. It's not because of you. And because if you start becoming upset about this and arguing back or become visibly frustrated, this will not help. It'll definitely make the episode to continue going or make things worse, and make the person more angry or more anxious or more frustrated.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Always listen and validate their feelings, which can be pretty hard. Because sometimes this can be pretty repetitive that they bring the same topic over and over. For example, saying, I hear that you're upset about this. And I know that this is very frustrating for you.
But that I really want to hear what you're saying. And I really need to make dinner. So how about we talk about this after dinner? And how about you help me wash the potatoes for dinner? So what I did that right there was, I hear what you're saying, you validate. I can hear that you're frustrated. And then you try to divert or change the attention to something else. That the other person doesn't feel that because you're trying to change activity is because you're minimizing how they're feeling. But at the same time, you are trying to change the topic or to engage them in activity that is more calming.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
This might be actually a good opportunity to get to know a little bit about the time in their life. So, Oh really, they're going to go pick up the kids? How are you going to do that? Oh well, I like to walk down this. Or I take the truck and drive over to this place, pick up some groceries, and then go get them from school. So you might actually not have known that before they picked you up from school, used to help get some groceries, or things like that, like travel a little bit in time with them.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
The situation is very real for the person. And that might be very hurtful or frustrating and make things worse. So if they tell you that they just saw their mother in the kitchen and you kind of minimize what they just said of like, Oh, no no. Your mom has been dead for 20 years. That might be very confusing, distressing for them and in some cases, maybe even wake up call that grief that they had from the past, which will make things worse.
But if you kind of just roll with it, or Oh really, and what did she say, things like that. Or Oh really, Oh well, that's very nice. How come how about you come and help me with folding this laundry-- again, changing topic of conversation.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Using music or activities that they enjoy, going out for a walk or keeping them engaged in an activity, come out changing that setting in which they are and their hallucinations, or the symptoms that they're having.
