Dementia - six scenarios and how to deal with them

Think Dementia – Six Scenarios

by Colne Life magazine

Welcome to Senior Snippets: the monthly advisory column with older members of our community in mind, brought to you by Rachel Kershaw of Home Instead in Burnley

The following is a summary of common scenarios someone living with dementia might encounter. We have also included guidance on how best to deal with these scenarios should you encounter someone living with dementia who may need support.

 

1. The Scenario:

A person struggling to count money to pay for things or struggling to find their wallet/debit card

What’s going on?
Money management skills are often amongst the first to be a challenge when a person has dementia. Regularly losing a wallet or purse, or the money inside it, is common and can cause the person with dementia anxiety, particularly if they are prone to paranoia or suspicious thoughts. Having trouble counting change or being able to recognise different coins and notes can also become more and more difficult.

Dementia - six scenarios

2. The Scenario:

A person looks lost on the street

What’s going on?
There can be a number of reasons why a person living with dementia can appear to be walking around without purpose: They could be continuing a habit, relieving boredom, or using up extra energy. Walking can relieve pain or discomfort and can be a distraction if they’re having problems sleeping or are feeling anxious. They may feel lost in their current environment, want to revisit a familiar place, or are seeking fulfilment.

3. The Scenario:

A person out in inappropriate clothing (slippers on a rainy day)

What’s going on?

The person living with dementia may not recognise or comprehend what the weather is like. They may no longer associate snow with being cold, for example. This may lead to them not wearing appropriate clothing for the situation.

4. The Scenario:

A person shouting and arguing with themselves

What’s going on?
People with dementia can find it hard to understand what’s going on around them and may interpret their surroundings in a different way than we would. This can be confusing and frightening for them. It may be that they are afraid and trying to escape from someone or something, real or perceived, or to stop feeling distressed and to feel calmer again.

5. The Scenario:

A person walking in a non-pedestrian location

What’s going on?
Like most people, a person with dementia may want to spend time walking. Walking is good exercise and can help relieve stress and boredom. However, sometimes, people living with dementia lose the ability to judge where they can and can’t walk. Worst case scenario, they could end up on a motorway or busy road that isn’t pedestrianised.

6. The Scenario:

When in conversation, relaying what sounds like a bizarre story or experience (this could be due to where they are in their reality, which can be very different to ours).

What’s going on?
When it comes to individuals living with dementia, making up stories can simply be a way to fill in the memory gaps. This does not mean the person is being intentionally manipulative. They are simply using this as a creative coping mechanism.

How should you deal with these scenarios?

  • Get close enough that you can hear each other and make eye contact, but not so close that you’re in their personal space or making them feel uncomfortable. Try not to approach from behind; try to always approach from in front of the person.
  • When speaking to someone potentially living with dementia, try short, simple sentences and leave plenty of time for an answer—patience is often rewarded. Always rephrase rather than repeating what they cannot understand.
  • Make sure your body language is relaxed
    and open.
  • Speak calmly and clearly, and adapt to how the person is reacting to you.
  • Try to avoid long, complicated questions.
  • Do not disagree with them; rather, enter their reality. If their reality is upsetting them, try to find a way to change the topic of conversation.
  • Stay with them if possible, and try to help them stay calm. Reassure them as many times as necessary that you’re there to help—by building trust, you may be able to get more information from them.
  • Contact the police as soon as possible to report that you believe you’ve found a vulnerable person.
  • It may help to wait with them in a café, shop or other public place so they feel safe.

 

Home Instead Founders Jess Croft and Rachel Kershaw

For more information, email enquiries.burnley@homeinstead.co.uk, call 01282 911300, or write to Home Instead Burnley, Northbridge House, Elm Street, Burnley, BB10 1PD