Adapting to Cognitive Changes
Supporting the person throughout the changes that come with cognitive decline can be overwhelming at times but learning strategies for “responding” rather than” reacting” can be the key to maintaining a trusting relationship and create a happier and healthier environment. Understanding where the person is cognitively, physically and emotionally and adapting your response to each situation, can help ease stress and minimize unpleasant interactions. Below are tips that might be helpful:
- If the person is holding an object in their hand that may not be safe, swap for another object rather than just taking it from their hand. This shows respect and helps maintain dignity.
- Avoiding logic: Are we imposing our reality rather than “being in the moment”?
- Pause and take a breath before you respond. and aways be mindful your body language matches your words.
- Adapt all activities to meet the person’s changing ability level.
- Know what you can change and what you cannot.
- Expect plans to change: Even the best-made plans can go awry but make them anyway. Going with the flow requires an abundance of patience. Often the flow of a person living with cognitive changes can be extremely slow, so always allow extra time for tasks to be completed.
- Meals may have to be broken into two or three short attempts, as one sitting may not hold the attention needed to finish a meal.
Taking care of yourself and getting proper rest goes a long way when supporting someone living with cognitive changes. When you are physically or emotionally exhausted, you are more like to “react” rather than “respond.”
If you are interested in learning more about our Memory Ministry, Family and Friends Education Workshops or our Memory Cafe, please contact Vicky Pitner at vpitner@firstumc.org