12 Things To Avoid
When working with people with Alzheimer's and/or dementia
- Avoid arguing with the person.
- Avoid yelling or raising your voice. What may be intended as a firm command or intervention could be viewed as a frightening and aggressive act by a person with Alzheimer's or dementia.
- Avoid confronting a person's deviant behaviors.
- Avoid negative statements, such as “No,” “Not,” “Never.”
- Avoid complex statements.
- Avoid outright lying to a person with Alzheimer's or dementia.
- Avoid multiple choices. This can be too confusing for a person with Alzheimer's or dementia.
- Avoid approaching from behind.
- Avoid asking the person to remember, i.e. “Remember me?,” “Remember when…?,” “Remember how to…?.”
- Avoid talking down to the person with Alzheimer's or dementia.
- Avoid using pronouns, slang, cute/pet names, nicknames for people, objects and places.
- Avoid excessive noise (i.e.: yelling out to other staff or individuals, slamming doors, loud music and/or singing).
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