My heart goes out to the many family caregivers who must listen to the same statement, question or story 20 times in one hour because a parent or spouse has some form of dementia. Respond to the emotions rather than to the words When your older adult starts to repeat something over and over, try to guess what feelings might be causing the behavior. She got forced into retirement 20 years ago and most people at her job couldnt stand her. Many have a condition called echolalia, in which the patient repeats words endlessly or echoes a phrase. While there is no easy fix for this trying side effect of aging, a change in attitude and some proven strategies can help you keep your cool and preserve your loved one’s dignity. You are here: Repetitive behaviour and dementia. It’s enough to drive a person mad. Call our 24 hours, seven days a week helpline at 800.272.3900. They are working through the past to find a sense of meaning. They may also repeat sentences, phrases or entire stories word-for-word. Maybe even returning to the topic over several days. Try to understand that your loved one isn’t repeating stories or questions to irritate you. In these scenarios, we caregivers end up repeating ourselves, too, which can be exasperating. An appropriate validating response might be, “Yes, it does look kind of blue from this angle.” Acquiescing doesn’t affect anyone negatively and your elder doesn’t end up feeling like they’re always wrong. Get an easy-to-understand breakdown of services and fees. Pay attention to your parents' appearance. If an aging loved one retells the same stories every now and then, and you think to yourself, “I’ve heard that a hundred times!” please have the patience to let them continue. What k… Logically, we feel that this behavior is inappropriate for seniors who have amassed decades of knowledge and experience. It becomes more difficult to practice validation when an elder’s thoughts are causing a great deal of anxiety or agitation. I'm a senior care specialist trained to match you with the care option that is best for you. I obviously couldn’t just agree with him and say there was a war here, because he was frightened. Frequent and progressive memory loss. So, what can dementia caregivers do about these seemingly endless loops? By Live Science Staff 31 August 2010. One of them is “Do I have a doctor’s appointment today?” In many cases, your loved one may wake up and ask this question and it would seem like a normal question. * Repetitive questions may be the person's efforts to regain a feeling of control over an environment which has become increasingly confusing. Short-Term Memory/Delayed Recall: Five words are read, the test-taker is asked to repeat them, they are read again and asked to repeat again. I'm matching you with one of our specialists who will be calling you in the next few minutes. What do I do? Get personalized guidance from a dedicated local advisor. When you visit your parents, start by considering these questions: 1. In most cases, he or she is probably looking for comfort, security and familiarity. While the underlying reasons why children and elders repeat things differ, the similarity here is that both groups are functioning with limited mental faculties. AgingCare.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment; or legal, or financial or any other professional services advice. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601. They may not be able to communicate effectively because they struggle to express their own thoughts. MARIGOLD TIMES PTE LTD 188 RACE COURSE ROAD #05-05 SINGAPORE 218612 UEN: 201217214H EA LICENCE: 13C6395 We are located at … (https://vfvalidation.org/get-started/what-is-validation/). The truth is that dementia patients’ brains are incapable of remembering things that have already been said. Coping Strategies * Arrange a medical examination to determine whether the person is experiencing the side-effects of medication or whether there is any acute physical illness (eg. This is also the way countless generations have secured their legacy—by passing down lessons learned and words of wisdom. Repeating-questions-from-elderly-marigold-caregivers. Long-term memory stays intact longer throughout the course of the disease, so older photographs tend to be a safer bet. Even the most experienced and patient family caregivers occasionally struggle to hide their frustration. Peculiar Behaviors. We have more patience for younger individuals because they are growing mentally and we know that their questions and one-track statements will eventually wane. I promised him that I wouldn’t let anything happen to him. As we age, our perspective on life changes. In speaking to them, I was told that she gave them minute, play-by-play instructions on such things as opening a file drawer or how to hang up the telephone. A common manifestation of OCD is repeating obsessions, or doing the same thing over and over. Let us connect you to professionals and support options near you. Talk about an old friend who has done something interesting recently. Orientation: The test administrator asks you to state the date, month, year, day, place, and city. There’s a commonly used dementia test. Repeating the same questions is often a sign that the person with dementia is trying to tell us something or that they need some reassurance. If you find yourself getting overwhelmed, just step into another room for a few moments, take a few deep breaths and then try again. It is common for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia to repeat questions and stories throughout the day, but it can pose a challenge for those who are caring for them. 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