7 Ways of Helping a Person with Dementia Symptoms Feel Less Anxious By TEEPA SNOW
As you go through life, you may tend to take for granted the amazing feats and abilities of your brain. Remembering where you parked the car, how to make your favorite pasta dish, or being able to dial the phone number of your best friend without looking at your address book are just a few of the tasks your brain assists you with. When a person begins to notice repeated memory problems in themselves, such as getting lost on the way to a familiar shopping mall or writing seven sticky notes for the same task, feelings of anxiety, frustration, or sadness can set in. As a loved one or friend, this can be very hard to watch. So, what can you do to help? 1. Help them find out what’s going on. If the person has not been diagnosed with anything, you may offer to go with them for a medical evaluation. While finding out what’s going on and diagnosing a potential dementia is not a straightforward path, having you by their side for support can significantly reduce anxiety (which, in turn, helps the brain, as it cannot function to its fullest while in an anxious state). 12
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2. Give them time to process. If the person does indeed receive a dementia diagnosis, give them time to process the news and work through their emotions. While for some, receiving a formal diagnosis can be devastating, for others, getting an answer for what is happening can almost be a sense of relief. Just as we are all different, every person’s response to a dementia diagnosis will differ. Give them time and space to process their emotions, and be there for them when they want to talk and need a friend. 3. Help them build a support network. You may want to encourage them to be open with family and friends about their diagnosis. Many people are willing to help, but they can’t if they don’t know what is going on. (A colleague once told me the story of a gas station attendant happily helping him pick out the appropriate change after he let him know he’s living with dementia and has trouble telling coins apart.) The more people know and are willing to help, the stronger the support network becomes. And the stronger the support network, the less anxiety and frustration the person will experience. www.BusinessWomanPA.com
