Learning how to redirect when conversations or situations are starting to take a turn for the worst can be an invaluable tool for caregivers of dementia or Alzheimer’s individuals. Read on to learn how to add this to your toolbox.
Redirection
What does redirection mean when applying it to an individual with dementia? How do I do it? Does it really work? These are all valid questions to ask yourself as a caregiver. This blog will give you guidance and helpful tips to better understand and use redirection in your daily life.
The Webster definition of redirection is “the action of assigning or directing something to a new or different place or purpose”. There are many ways in which you can use redirection strategies with those suffering from dementia. In everyday caregiving we use redirection to keep a person from becoming more agitated. Maybe you need to redirect them to keep them safe. Another great time to redirect is when you are trying to accomplish a task, like brushing their teeth or drinking water.
Let’s break it down even more and give you some concrete examples of redirection. We will conclude with a few take away tips.
Scenario one: Let’s get dressed!
It is bright and early on a given morning and your loved one with dementia is shuffling to the bathroom. They have a doctor’s appointment this morning so they need to get dressed for the day in a timely manner. After you help them go to the bathroom, they start heading to the kitchen for breakfast. You attempt to say, “let’s get dressed first,” but they want no part of getting dressed. If eating prior to getting dressed is part of your routine and you have the time, great, eat breakfast in your PJs. If not, how do I get them dressed?
First, be prepared. If you know that getting dressed this particular morning is going to be a deviation in the routine; be ready. Have a few key statements ready to go right as they walk out the door of the bathroom. Examples could be, “Mom, I have something for you to look at in here that is really important, can you come with me?” “Dad, I needed help in the closet getting something down, do you mind helping me first?”
Once in the closet, redirect again. “Mom, do you think the red blouse or white blouse would look good on you today? Let’s try it on, and see?” “Dad, I am not sure if these pants fit you anymore, can we try them on to see?”
A Final Recap
1. Be prepared as best you can. Try to anticipate their moves and redirect before they get fixated on something.
2. Watch your tone of voice and remain calm. They will feed off your energy and tone of voice. If you are calm and happy, they will feel that and remain calm as well.
3. Validate. Whatever it is that is consuming their thoughts and actions are important to them. To us they may seem silly, trivial or important but to someone with dementia that “thing” is all consuming and your validation is the emotional reassurance they need to move past that “thing.”
4. Get comfortable with therapeutic lying. Realize that these small deceptions are accomplishing larger more important tasks. They are having more of a positive effect on your loved one than a negative. They are keeping them safe and helping to improve their quality of life.
5. Give thanks and praise! They need to feel like their task was appreciated. We all love to feel appreciated, don’t we? That instant moment of gratitude helps set the tone for the next task that needs to be accomplished.
6. Finally, be flexible. Not every situation is going to go as planned and not every attempt to redirect will work. Give yourself some grace and time to navigate each situation. Patterns will begin to form, and you will get better and better at redirecting the more you do it. If mom makes it to the doctor’s appointment on time but is wearing a pink shirt that doesn’t match her pants because she insisted on pink, pat yourself on the back. You made the appointment! Hang in there.
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Thanks for this reminder ♥️