What questions should you not ask someone with dementia?

'What did you do this morning?'
Avoid asking too many open-ended questions, as it could be stressful for a person with dementia if they can't remember the answer. While it might seem polite to ask somebody about their day, it's better to focus on what's happening in the present.


What questions not to ask a person with dementia?

I'm going to discuss five of the most basic ones here: 1) Don't tell them they are wrong about something, 2) Don't argue with them, 3) Don't ask if they remember something, 4) Don't remind them that their spouse, parent or other loved one is dead, and 5) Don't bring up topics that may upset them.

How do you not talk to someone with dementia?

try not to interrupt them, even if you think you know what they're saying. stop what you're doing so you can give the person your full attention while they speak. minimise distractions that may get in the way of communication, such as the television or the radio playing too loudly, but always check if it's OK to do so.


What questions can you ask dementia patients?

Here are some questions you might ask:
  • What chores did you have to do when you were growing up?
  • When you were a teenager, what did you and your friends do for fun?
  • What are some of the most valuable things you learned from your parents?
  • What did your grandparents and great grandparents do for a living?


When asking questions to a person with dementia it is best to?

Tips for asking questions
  • Try to avoid asking too many questions, or asking complicated questions. The person may become frustrated or withdrawn if they can't find the answer.
  • Try to stick to one idea at a time. ...
  • Phrase questions in a way that allows for a simple answer.


How to Talk to Someone With Dementia



How do you make a dementia patient happy?

Do something personal.
  1. Give the person a hand massage with lotion.
  2. Brush his or her hair.
  3. Give the person a manicure.
  4. Take photos of the person and make a collage.
  5. Encourage the person to talk more about subjects they enjoy.
  6. Make a family tree posterboard.


What do dementia patients like to talk about?

“People living with Alzheimer's may enjoy talking about their families, friends, and the things they like in life, whether it's a hobby, an old TV show, or their favorite foods.”

What is the 30 question test for dementia?

The Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE) or Folstein test is a 30-point questionnaire that is used extensively in clinical and research settings to measure cognitive impairment. It is commonly used in medicine and allied health to screen for dementia.


Do you tell a dementia patient the truth?

The person undergoing the assessment for dementia should be allowed to decide if they want to know if the diagnosis is confirmed. In general, if a person is aware that they are going for a diagnosis they will be able to make that choice. It is recommended that a person with dementia be told of their diagnosis.

What is the best way to interact with a person with dementia?

What you can do to help
  1. Be patient. Take time to listen and allow time for the person with dementia to talk without interruption.
  2. Learn to interpret. Try to understand what is being said based on the context. ...
  3. Be connected. ...
  4. Be aware of your nonverbal cues. ...
  5. Offer comfort. ...
  6. Show respect. ...
  7. Avoid distractions. ...
  8. Keep it simple.


Can someone with dementia understand you?

People living with dementia act and speak with intention. We can often understand what they mean to communicate if we try. But if we believe they lack the capacity to have intentions, we're not likely to try.


Do dementia patients know you are there?

Alzheimer's disease progressively destroys brain cells over time, so during the early stages of dementia, many do recognize something is wrong, but not everyone is aware. They may know they are supposed to recognize you, but they can't.

Should you argue with someone with dementia?

Arguing Is a Waste of Time

It can be easy to become frustrated with someone who has dementia and argue with them to convince them of how they're wrong about something. Not only will arguing not change their mind, but you also won't win. Instead, you will almost always increase the frustration levels of both of you.

How do you talk to an angry person with dementia?

How to respond
  1. Try to identify the immediate cause. ...
  2. Rule out pain as the cause of the behavior. ...
  3. Focus on feelings, not the facts. ...
  4. Don't get upset. ...
  5. Limit distractions. ...
  6. Try a relaxing activity. ...
  7. Shift the focus to another activity. ...
  8. Take a break.


Should you ask Alzheimer patients questions?

Remember: ask the patient and/or loved one to share favorite stories from childhood—family members may even be surprised to learn something new. Also keep in mind that even though the patient and/or loved one is losing his/her memory, he/she still has feelings and emotions.

Can people with dementia answer questions?

People with dementia may have a range of cognitive and behavioural symptoms that can interfere with their ability to answer QoL questions. Communication, attention, memory and judgement are necessary skills to answer survey questions [ 3 ] and these are all cognitive areas that may be impaired in people with dementia.

Is TV good for dementia patients?

For men and women with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, it can be especially beneficial. Watching movies and TV shows can help keep their brain active, which can stimulate positive memories, improve mood, and even increase socialization.


What if you tell someone with dementia they have dementia?

Gently express that you are concerned about them because they haven't been themselves lately. Don't say it in a critical or accusing way – otherwise they may become defensive. Use a gentle tone of voice. Be aware of your body language when having the conversation.

Can you trust someone with dementia?

The short answer is yes; someone with dementia can make a trust as long as they meet the mental capacity requirements to do so.

What is the 3 word memory test?

The Mini-Cog test.

A third test, known as the Mini-Cog, takes 2 to 4 minutes to administer and involves asking patients to recall three words after drawing a picture of a clock. If a patient shows no difficulties recalling the words, it is inferred that he or she does not have dementia.


What are the 5 words memory test?

Introduction: The five-word test (5WT) is a serial verbal memory test with semantic cuing. It is proposed to rapidly evaluate memory of aging people and has previously shown its sensitivity and its specificity in identifying patients with AD.

What is 7 in a dementia test?

Background: The seven minute screen (7MS) is a compilation of the temporal orientation test, enhanced cued recall, clock drawing, and verbal fluency. It has been shown to be useful for detecting Alzheimer's disease in a population of patients with memory complaints.

What activities do dementia patients like?

Reminiscing activities for dementia patients at home
  • Look through photo albums. Photo albums with pictures from your loved one's childhood or young adulthood can bring back favorite memories. ...
  • Watch old movies and TV shows. ...
  • Listen to music and sing. ...
  • Explore history through catalogs and magazines.


What is the most important thing in caring for dementia patients?

Allow the person to keep as much control in his or her life as possible. Respect the person's personal space. Build quiet times into the day, along with activities. Keep well-loved objects and photographs around the house to help the person feel more secure.

What do people with dementia want you to know?

Requests From a Dementia Patient
  • I have been diagnosed, not defined. See the real me. ...
  • I cannot do this alone. Please help me. ...
  • I am worthy of respect. I need to feel that what I say and do matters. ...
  • Please comfort me. ...
  • I crave compassion. ...
  • I am still here; keep talking with me. ...
  • Understand my limitations. ...
  • I will hurt you.