A positive approach sets you up for dementia care success

 

Something as simple as how you approach (walk up to or start interacting with) someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia can set the tone for the whole interaction.  Because the person with dementia’s brain has been damaged, they’re no longer processing information in the same way we do.  That’s why our natural instincts for approaching someone might seem scary or aggressive from their point of view.  If we unintentionally startle them, it can trigger their natural “fight or flight” response and cause conflict.

 

Learning to approach someone in a non-threatening way sets the stage for a positive interaction.  And helping someone feel at ease makes it much more likely that they’ll cooperate with the task at hand.  There are some successful techniques for how to approach someone with dementia and why some of our approaches can seem scary or threatening – the opposite of our kind intentions.

 

6 essential techniques for how to approach someone with dementia

 

Approach from the front, never from behind

It’s a natural human response to be startled by or uncomfortable with someone unseen coming up from behind and touching them or getting right in their face.  The person might respond with fight (hit out), flight (try to get away), or fright (freeze and grab on to something).
 

Approach very slowly to give their brain time to process

If you zoom up (from their damaged brain’s perspective), they’ll be startled and again respond with fight, flight, or fright.
A good pace is to count “one-one-thousand” per step.
 

Avoid a confrontational stance

Instead of standing right in front of (and over) someone, use a supportive stance. Stand at arms length at their side (dominant, writing hand side is preferred because that instinctively makes them feel more comfortable).  Don’t mistake a smile or laugh for true comfort or happiness. It could be a nervous smile or laugh while they’re actually uncomfortable and figuring out how to respond.
 

Crouch down to eye level or below, don’t bend forward

Bending forward puts your face too close to theirs, causing discomfort.  They feel like their in control, so they’re more likely to cooperate.
 

Offer your hand, don’t grab or pull

When someone grabs or pulls you, the automatic response is to pull away and resist.  When you offer your hand, they choose to take it, which makes them more likely to cooperate.