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Sunita1984care Asked August 2014

How can reality orientation strategies help a person with dementia?

EXPERT Carol Bradley Bursack, CDSGF Aug 2014
It often can't, which is why in many instances people find it more helpful to try to join the person with the disease in their world by validating their thoughts. Rather than arguing about whether something happened today or yesterday, you could say, "Well that's interesting. Tell me about it" and then go on from there. Arguing to try to re-orient someone with Alzheimer's to a world they no longer understand isn't often fruitful. Distraction and re-direction can be helpful, however. You may find this article helpful: https://www.agingcare.com/articles/validation-therapy-for-dementia-166707.htm
Good luck,
Carol

jeannegibbs Aug 2014
Sunita1984care, if your textbook or instructor says reality orientation helps dementia patients, I think the author/instructor needs a little introduction to reality!

I spent lots of effort in my husband's first year of dementia trying to orient him to reality and away from his delusions. What a waste of time! Thank goodness I learned more effective ways of dealing with him as I attended caregiver support groups, read on the subject, and got on dementia-oriented websites.

From experience, I'd say reality orientation seldom help those with dementia.

If this question is for a class I do not resent you posting it here. In fact, I think it resourceful to try to find out how real people view this topic in the real world. But it might not earn you an A!

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Labs4me Aug 2014
It can't. Memory loss and confusion distorts what is real for a person with dementia. It is more emotionally safer for them to be at peace in their world, then attempt to bring them into the world of reality causing more confusion and anxiety. Common sense and experience caregiving a dementia person is the best strategy in helping them.

surprise Aug 2014
It really does seem that this person is training and this is a homework assignment, based only on her one other original post, all today. And this question was asked again on an old post, I would guess from a search she did.

GardenArtist Aug 2014
I saw that old post as well. the question wasn't answered then so it was asked again today.

That really seems arrogant to me - to try to get posters here who are dealing with serious physical, mental, legal, financial and emotional issues to help with someone's homework assignment.

If this person is really that lazy, he/she should find another occupation to study because he/she isn't going to cut it in caregiving.

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