How do you talk to someone who lost their memory?!
Question: I have a grandmother that had several strokes in the past. She now has a hard time remembering the past. She asked me in a phone conversation today how my grammy was doing. My grammy has passed away 3 years ago. My grammy now, knew that at some point. There are alot of things she asks and if I told her the reality of it all it might set her back. Do I tell her the truth or do I play along with what she is believing? I am so upset about this. My mom keeps telling me to play along with what she believes. I don't know that, that is the right thing to do!! Please....someone help me who has delt with something like this before. I am losing my Grammy :o(
Answers: I have a grandmother that had several strokes in the past. She now has a hard time remembering the past. She asked me in a phone conversation today how my grammy was doing. My grammy has passed away 3 years ago. My grammy now, knew that at some point. There are alot of things she asks and if I told her the reality of it all it might set her back. Do I tell her the truth or do I play along with what she is believing? I am so upset about this. My mom keeps telling me to play along with what she believes. I don't know that, that is the right thing to do!! Please....someone help me who has delt with something like this before. I am losing my Grammy :o(
I am so sorry. I work for an assisted living facility. We have several people here with the same thing, Alzheimer's, is a very cruel disease.
We are trained to "help" them through it. We play along with them because many can become agitated. We also do things to help their memory.
We play music from their era, we play games they played, we show photos and even do "Life Stories" for them.
Life stories is fun and easy, get a scrapbook or photo album. Find out as much about their childhood as possible, as this is what they regress to. In the front of the book put things like birthdays, who their parents were, just general info. Ask friends and loved ones about what you could put in this book.
Finish it out with current memories like great grandchildren, current outings together and so on.
Good luck, it breaks my heart every day, but I love the smile I help to put on their confused faces. They all have something great to share, so just be patient, listen and love!!!
I think that you should just talk to them as if you always have! that would be the best bet i think..cause you could explain things to them again and maybe bring yall both to laugh and jus have fun Report It
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