Alzheimer’s Disease: Skill Building Module 15 Alzheimer’s Disease: Skill Building Geriatric Aide Curriculum NC Division of Health Service Regulation For use in conjunction with: The Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. (2003). Module 2 of Accepting the Challenge: Providing the best care for people with dementia, [Videotape].

Skill Building for Dementia Caregivers Objectives Explain flight, fight or fright reactions. Demonstrate the positive physical approach when working with a person with dementia. Discuss the three ways to communicate: how you speak, what you say, and how you respond.

Flight, Fight, Or Fright Flight: person’s first reaction is to run away or get away from the threat Fight: person’s first reaction is to become angry, demonstrate argumentative behavior or even try to hit someone Fright: person’s first reaction is to freeze and not move

Positive Physical Approach To People With Dementia Come from the front Go slowly Get to the side Get low or sit down Offer a hand Use the person’s preferred name Wait for a response

Communicating By Talking Always use positive physical approach Pay attention to three ways to communicate: How you speak What you say How you respond to the person

How You Speak To A Person With Dementia Tone of voice Friendly not bossy or critical Pitch of voice Deep is better Speed of speech Slow and easy, not pressured and fast

What You Say To A Person With Dementia Three basic reasons to talk with someone: Get the person to do something Have a friendly interaction Deal with person’s distress or frustration/anger

What You Say To A Person With Dementia To get the person to do something: Give short, direct message Give simple choices Ask the person to help you Ask if the person will try the task Break down the task into steps

What You Say To A Person With Dementia To have a friendly conversation: Go slow-go with the flow Acknowledge emotions Use words that are familiar to person Know the person as a person

What You Say To A Person With Dementia To have a friendly conversation (continued): Use familiar objects Be prepared to repeat conversation Look interested and friendly Be prepared for emotional outbursts Don’t argue but keep person safe

What You Say To A Person With Dementia To deal with the person’s distress or frustration/anger: Try to figure out what person wants or needs Use empathy, not forced reality or lying

What You Say To A Person With Dementia To deal with the person’s distress or frustration/anger (continued): Once person is responding to you, redirect person’s attention to something that is okay Distract with other things or activities person likes and values

How To Respond To A Person With Dementia Use positive, friendly approval or praise (short, specific and sincere) Offer thanks and appreciation for person’s effort Laugh with person and appreciate attempts at humor and friendliness

How To Respond To A Person With Dementia (continued) Shake hands to start and end an interaction Use touch only if the person wants it

If Your Approach Is Not Working If what you are doing is not working: STOP! BACK OFF – give the person some space and time Decide on what to do differently Try again!

The End