A while back the New York Times ran an article called "Zen And The Art of Coping With Alzheimer's Disease".
I was intrigued by the article because it was trying to capture the attention of the baby boomers (it worked, hooked me!) and it also talked about the importance of validating the feelings and perceptions of those with dementia. Hurrah!
The best thing about the article was the focus on using validation or as they first called it , "going with the flow". They appealed to the flower child in all of us (now aging baby boomers) who are now reluctant dementia caregivers by pointing out that we must realize that those with dementia are not being deliberately difficult or stubborn. Instead, we have to "let go" as we did in the 60's and 70's, of some of our preconceptions of how things should be and "go with the flow".
We've talked before about the value of using validation techniques by sensing the feelings behind the behavior and validating the feeling. If the person is angry and frustrated, they may actually be reacting to an overstimulating environment and our job as caregivers is to recognize their feelings, let them vent and help them find a more comfortable place.
The article was a great start for all us dementia caregivers out there but it could have used more resources at the end to send us for further information, especially on validation.
I know we've shared validation stories before, but do any of you have a good example of how you used validation techniques to diffuse a difficult caregiving situation?
Great information here. I will visit often. Thanks.
Krista
www.alzheimersteam.com
Posted by: Krista | January 27, 2009 at 05:12 PM
Krista: Thanks for writing, I'll be sure to check out your site as well!
Sue
Posted by: Sue | January 27, 2009 at 07:09 PM