1. < Caregivers: Dementia

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

Posted by joedeb @joedeb, Feb 2 12:58pm

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/health/dementia-patients-fake-settings.html?unlocked_article_code=1.t04.qL-3.CGnsLWtx2NUe&smid=url-share

I have mixed feelings about this article. In some way, in severe dementia, I could see it helping. It would be hard on the caregiver to live in a fake world all the time. I find myself telling my wife your wrong a lot and I wonder what that does to her self esteem

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Caregivers: Dementia Support Group.

1995victoria | @1995victoria | Feb 5 8:52am

I found there is "one thing" that is like magic to distract. Can't over use or it will stop working.....but hits the right spot and it works for both of us....Sometimes just agreeing and then moving on....good luck

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baj | @baj | Feb 5 3:52pm
In reply to @bayviewgal "@1995victoria I have found that as long as my hubby is calm and happy, i just..." + (show)
@bayviewgal

@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

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Thanks for the reminder. My husband is in the early to mid-stage stage and can, at times, be pretty cantankerous. He feels that no matter what I am doing, I am at his beck and call 24/7. If I don't stop and pay attention, he gets angry.

REPLY
bayviewgal | @bayviewgal | Feb 7 1:13pm

Oh believe me, it's not always easy and without incident when I try to distract or calm my husband down. He can get cantankerous as well but i have to remind myself to take a deep breath and give me a minute or 2 to try to calm down before i try to find out what exactly the problem is. I know everyone's situations are different and since there's no set and hard way to handle these situations it cam be very overwhelming and stressful but i keep reminding myself that it's not HIM, its this awful disease that we can't control. I'm just glad we have this platform to vent and share and get advice or just to know that we really are not alone thru this journey.

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