Here are some ways family members and primary carers can approach the difficult question, ‘What do I say to someone with dementia in residential care who wants to go home?’
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!It’s not uncommon for a person with dementia to say they want to go home. This may be caused by time-shifting or general confusion, and can be distressing for everyone.
Below are a few considerations on what to say to someone in this situation who wants to go home.
5 things to remember when someone with dementia is asking to go home
1. Avoid arguing about whether they are already ‘home’
If they don’t recognise their environment as ‘home’ at that moment, then for that moment, it isn’t home.
2. Reassure them of their safety
3. Try diverting the conversation
4. Establish whether or not they are feeling unhappy or lonely
5. Keep a log of when they are asking to go home
For the full article read Alzheimer’s Society’s guide on what to say to someone with dementia.
