Dementia Patients

[clarinets, CNA]

As a CNA how does one work with NON DIRECTABLE Dementia patients? What are the tricks?

[Gooselady, BSN, RN]

It mostly depends on what you need to do with them.

Maybe educate yourself just by reading online, blogs or research or articles about caring for a person with dementia. Not so much for CNA 'how tos' but to understand what might be going through their heads, why they aren't directable, how their severe memory deficits change your approach.

In some ways, it's like taking care of a mobile young toddler. You can't really TELL them what to do, they aren't that verbal yet. And by no means are they going to be 'directable'. So you have an adult with an adult's dignity to preserve, who is functioning at the level of a very young, preverbal child MENTALLY. Only worse.

How to notice when they are about to escalate due to anger or anxiety. How to arrange or schedule your care so as to not trigger fear. Fear is pretty much the source of any rage or anger for all human beings, including demented ones :) So how to make this person feel as 'safe' as you possibly can?

A lot of this will be done 'on the ground', and each adult with severe dementia will be a bit different. If you keep in mind how poorly they tolerate change, that will get you started. "Change" basically triggers their fear (and then, anger), so carefully respect and maintain what gives them the safety of familiarity, what to expect, and so forth.

Very good question for you to ask, I can tell you are a sensitive and compassionate soul. You will do very well :)

[anewsns]

I try to just blend into the picture as much as possible .. Live in their world , like if the dementia patient is headed for the bus stop then I would say .. "Yea well head over but i hafta go to the bathroom first, it's a long ride .." Then next thing you're in the bathroom and they figure they might as well go . (Well depending on how much information that patient can handle of course , you get the idea ..) I always have a blast dealing with these folks .. If things get dangerous you just need backup sometimes . sometimes its appropriate to just leave them alone too .. It's hard to give solid suggestions as I find this is more of an art than a science , but always pretend you are a friend or family member (or whatever they need you to be ) and that often works . Keep your tone relaxed and friendly too like a friend would . Sometimes it's just a matter of trial and error