Fake settings: Does it help dementia patients in a pretend setting?

I get why there are benefits to the places described in the article. It’s a great idea because it brings the residents enjoyment. Actual events and activities are often no longer possible for many who have dementia. What is the benefit of trying to force them into a reality? If they can’t process it and can’t remember it, it’s not going to happen.

Whether you tell them 2 times or 200 times…..it’s pointless to try to make them get it. All the corrections just exasperate the caregiver and upset the person with dementia. A pleasant conversation where you agree and compliment is much less stressful and easier on everyone.

I'm sort of in the 3 year old phase at the moment. I treat her like a 3 year old and she acts like one the majority of the time. The rest is some sort of reality though. I don't think I'm ready to go total fake. It may be coming...
For anyone trying nuplazid, we stopped for a while to see if there was any change. I couldn't tell if there was any benefit. We had been on it for 8 weeks. I stopped it for 10 days and went back on. It may be small but I think there was a change from the drug now. Not easy to tell. This is an ever evolving process...

Is memory care really $15,000 per month? There has been inflation for sure in cost. Portland, OR in one facility is Mid 8000s for memory care plus another $5k for the spouse in a studio. What is happening to costs in AL facilities? And skilled care facilities?

joedeb, have to agree (without knowing) about the confusion in creating a false reality for people with dementia.
But tell your wife how wonderfully smart she is. Find in every confusion the opportunity to blatantly love her.

I think there is a place in Memory Care for both approaches. My daughter worked as an RN in memory care in both skilled nursing and assisted living in the same place my Mom, uncle and several family friends resided. I was there a lot.

In assisted living, memory care residents paricipated in activities in both their unit and the full facility depending on their wishes and capacity (which could change from day to day). I often assisted with baking, snack time and dancing during activities.

By the time most people reached skilled care, the time for reality was usually long past, and for many taking them out of their comfort zone led to upset later. Many of her residents there loved taking care of their dolls or stuffed animals, endlessly dusting the furniture or picking up dishes, or walking the circular hallways. It was a way to be occupied instead of many fidgety repetitive motions or fighting with other residents. Others preferred to watch TV or read magazines.

My niece is in a residential memory care setting, staff and family try to keep her oriented as much as possible. But she says thinking is hard (like about memories) and makes her tired, so we keep visits short. We often dance with her, something she has always loved.

She spends many hours sorting and folding her socks as well as the towels and washcloths. And she walks her preferred paths in the yard for hours each day - rain or shine.

So, it is different for each person and family. And it changes all the time, just like you describe.

Bless you for taking on the almost impossible role of caregiver.

I discovered with my cousin to let her take the lead. Just agree with her, distract her with something, it doesn't matter as long as she is calm and happy. Before she went into memory care, she would ask me to come over every day. So I would say yes, later, and she'd forget that I didn't come. Easy for me and her. I would remember "accept the things you cannot change, and change the things you can"

Memory care in NW Illinois around $8,000. I have done therapeutic fibbing and I think it is good for both of us. "Accept what you can't change and change what you can" Good advice...

Do no Harm. It is so difficult but yes, fibbing to prevent hurt, crying, or sense of loss. Yes, I'm for lying.

Greed!

@1995victoria I have found that as long as my hubby is calm and happy, i just let him do what he's doing as long as it's not hurting anyone. Yes, distraction is always helpful as well, especially when he gets upset about something or someone that isn't there, but in HIS mind it IS happening. It's no always easy to distract him especially when he has his mind set on something, but I just do the best I can, and that's really all of us caregivers can do.
Keep hangin in there