Don’t take it personally
If your mother can’t remember your name or calls you by a sibling’s name don’t take it personally. It’s not your loved one’s fault, it’s the disease. Getting upset will only weaken your relationship.
Don’t ask about recent events
Instead of asking them about recent events, just tell them about the good old days. One person made a scrap book with pictures of her grandmother with the family members. She would sit and talk with her grandmother about all the family stories and what the grandmother with Alzheimer’s did with each particular person and how she knew them. It was a great bonding experience.
Rekindle old hobbies
Find a hobby your family member with dementia used to love and then incorporate it into their life. One lady with dementia used to sew a lot. Her daughter would take her mother to the fabric store and her mother would go through the store and find fabrics that matched. The daughter then would take the fabric home and sew aprons with her mother. Enjoying an old hobby gave her mother the sense of purpose that she had lost.
Call weekly if your far
If you live out of state, call your family member weekly. Calling on the same day and at the same time every week will help them remember you and make it a pleasant experience. Consistency is really helpful for those with dementia.
Take a break
Being the full-time caregiver can take a toll on you and your relationship with your loved one. A senior activity center for those with dementia can provide the much needed assistance you and your loved one so desperately need. You can take time off to get the rest you need to be patient and kind with your loved one with dementia and your loved one can get the rest and relaxation they need by socializing and doing fun activities with other seniors.