IS it better to try to correct an Alzheimer's patient when their memories are wr!
Question:
IS it better to try to correct an Alzheimer's patient when their memories are wrong, or just go along with it?
When a person has dimentia is it better to go alomg with what they say/ remember even if it isn't true ar acurate or try to correct them. Even if you know in a few minutes they will not remember?
Answers:
The old school of thought was to gently remind the individual that he or she is mistaken or wrong. However, the new school of thought recommends "validation" (also called "validation therapy"). This means that instead of correcting your mother, say, you would allow her to believe whatever she believes. This is what a representative of the Alzheimer's Association had to say during a conference that I went to in 2006:
"Imagine that you're running late for work and don't have any time to spare. Then imagine that your daughter keeps telling you that you don't work anymore and trying to distract you with menial tasks like the laundry."
The point is that by correcting the Alzheimer's patient's "false reality," you are contributing to the confusion. While these moments of false reality may not be grounded in the real world, they usually mean that there is some degree of lucidity for the person with Alzheimer's. Let them enjoy that. Also, even though the patient might not be "with" us all the time anymore, none of us likes to be constantly told that we're wrong.