Responding to “I Want to Go Home” from a Loved One with Dementia

As family members of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, there are many challenges you will face while navigating this difficult journey. One of those defining moments is the decision to place the individual in a home that specializes in caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases.

While a family may instinctively understand that memory care assisted living communities make the best sense for their loved one’s safety and wellbeing, caregivers and families often hear a common refrain of “I want to go home.” In fact, due to the confusion that goes on in their brains, some sufferers even frequently complain that they want to go home even when they are already at home.

Dementia care specialists say that a repeated cry to “go home” generally is the person’s way of expressing feelings of anxiety and stress, and the best thing you can do is to respond to the emotions behind their words. To help soothe, approach the person in a calm and relaxing manner and do the things you know work to comfort them such as giving a hug or a gentle stoking, and if they use one, give them their therapy doll or animal.

Experts say it is not the right approach to explain that they cannot go home or that they are already home; rather concentrate on making them feel secure and safe. Another technique dementia caregivers frequently use is to “validate, redirect, and distract. This can include saying things like we will go after lunch, and then gently redirecting and distracting them with something like walking them out to the porch and pointing out flowers in the garden.

MorningStar at Bear Creek specializes in providing compassionate, individualized memory care for those with mild to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Our 48 suites include studio and one-and two bedrooms floor plans along with all the amenities and services required for the finest care. We want you to know we are here to help if your loved one is suffering from memory loss. Please visit our website to learn more about our holistic care and loving staff.

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing seniors and investing in a staff with a felt calling to serve, we offer loving, compassionate care within a beautiful home-like setting. Please contact us for more information about Colorado Springs’ finest memory care assisted living.

Source: dailycaring.com/when-someone-with-alzheimers-says-i-want-to-go-home-3-ways-to-respond/