Let your intuition and spirit guide you in providing what you think are the approaches that recognized by person as a positive engaging activity. Listening with your heart will require that you really understand the person. You love the person that you care for and want to do everything that you can do for them. You will engage in daily activities to help them spiritually, emotionally, socially, and physically.
I am a caregiver. I do think about this every day at work. I see family come in and visit loved ones who are suffering with dementia. What is the visit like? How do they feel? I go about engaging their loved one with approved dementia activities and programming. I wonder how they are feeling that my mom, dad, husband, spouse, grandmother, dad, mother, or friends used to be able to respond to such an easy activity.
Do they really know why I am engaging with trivia, physical activity, music, humor, reminiscing, spiritual, intellectual, creative, and just about everything else that I can do to help them. Alternatively, do they think this is silly? For those of you that are caregivers do not ever think this is a silly job or occupation. What you are doing is vital and important. Do the right thing every day. Do you very best. Continue to listen with your heart and engage every day. Do not give up. The people who care for the one's you are caring for will appreciate this. That is the bottom line.
When listening with the heart you really do care about this person. Engaging takes on a new meaning. The body and soul of the person becomes very important. This becomes amazing. The person you are engaging with bonds with you. Sometimes you can feel goose bumps when you can find ways to connect. Many call these finding personal connections. In healthcare, we often find some people have more success engaging with certain people. We also find that some caregivers seem to have an ability to connect with different people.
When engaging listen to your heart. Love the person.
Remember that a person with dementia wants love. Love with compassion. Listen with the heart to discover ways to engage in positive ways. Take the time to discover who this person really is and what will help to engage you with him or her. Listen to your heart and find the joy that is in front of you. Take advantage of the moments that you discover that mean so much to the person.
There is the reality to dementia when listening to the heart. The person can potentially become disgraceful. Awful behaviors occur with dementia. Keep in mind the disease is robbing the mind. The brain is literally determined to lose the function that healthy brains hold. When you engage with your heart, it can difficult to understand why this person is being difficult. You are listening with your heart and such heartbreak happens.
Take the moment to understand that you love and compassionate to this person. No matter what he or she presents to you. You are going to accept what they are doing. You are going to accept who they are. Unfortunately, medicines and treatments are not going to change the behaviors of this person. You will need to listen with your heart with love and compassion.
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