Therapeutic Lying, Ethical? Or not?

[vregino36]

Hello everyone I am very new to this site a little about myself I am 22 and starting nursing school in august. I am a male with a strong interest in learning. Like I normally do when I become interested in something I do bundles of research before I bring it up for discussion. I'd like to get professional feed back on therapeutic Lying on dementia patients. Of course yiu all know dealing with a patient that has dementia can be extra brutal let's say for instance Mrs. Doe goes on a random fit asking where her husband is and starts screaming and crying uncontrollably till you till her. You have two decisions. Decision A tell Mrs. Doe her husband is dead and has been for 15 years and try to re synchronize the patient. (Truth). Or decision B tell mrs. Doe her husband is on his way back from the store with her favorite flavor of jello all while bringing her some jello. I know as health care providers we are there to make living and dying easier so it sounds to me that the Therapeutic Lying is the best choice. What do you all think?...

[misstrinad]

I have worked on an Alzheimer's unit for 5+ yrs and for 95% of the pts in that situation you jump into their reality with them. Mother went to the store she will be back I'm an hour...then redirect/distract.....let's go to the kitchen and find a snack. Or I straight up lie....resident is hysterical thinking they have to get up and get ready for school.... I tell them it's Sat, no school today! You can go back to sleep for another hour, would you like that?

You get to know which residents reality orientation works for and in what moods it works for too.

That's the way its done on my unit for longer than I have been there. And it works well. I never tell a pt their spouse/parent is dead. Making them relive that is horrible.