Hey guys!
I’ve got a question due to dementia and the handling with persons with dementia. In the university we’ve already talked about like Naomi Feil, but during my time at the university I can’t practice what I learn, so maybe you can give my some advices from your practical applications. My question: How do you react when somebody runs away from your place, because they wanna go ,,home“?
That’s a great question! Handling situations where a person with dementia wants to „go home“ and even tries to leave requires empathy, patience, and specific communication strategies. Since you’ve already learned about Naomi Feil, you’re probably familiar with Validation Therapy, which is a great approach. Here are some suggestions from my practical experiences:
Instead of correcting them by saying, „This is your home“ or „You can’t leave,“ try to validate their emotions. You could say:
„I see that you’re missing home. Tell me about your home—what’s it like?“ or „It sounds like home is really important to you. What do you like most about it?“
After acknowledging their feelings, try gently shifting their focus to something else:
-Suggest a task: „Before you go, could you help me with this first?“
-Offer food or a drink: „Let’s have some tea together, then we can talk about going home.“
-Engage them in an activity: a walk, folding towels, listening to music, etc.
I hope that these tips from my practical experiences were helpful to you. The most important thing is to always remain congruent and honest. If you need any further support, just post a blog entry :D
Good luck and best wishes from Germany,
Jasmin
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