A Case of Playing Detective-

How Putting On Your Detective Hat Can Make You a Better Caregiver

Just because you’re not a detective doesn’t mean you can’t play one. In fact, as a Dementia Consultant and Educator, I’ve learned that putting on your imaginary detective hat can be a key part of being a more effective caregiver. At this point, you may be wondering what on earth does being a detective have to do with caring for someone with dementia? Let me use a story to explain.

One day during an afternoon church program at a care home where I was a recreation assistant, a gentleman with dementia named “John” began displaying behaviour that seemed very out of character. Usually cognitively alert and cooperative, he started being disruptive by wheeling his wheelchair around the room, as if he wanted to leave.

People were becoming disturbed by John and it was obvious that he was acting strangely, so instead of simply labeling his behaviour as one of the many effects of dementia and getting him out of the room, I decided to investigate further. Using a gentle tone, I asked him what was wrong. I was surprised to hear a very specific answer from him. “I need to catch the Go train!” he said. “The Go train? Isn’t that part of Toronto’s transit system?” I thought. Though John was now in Vancouver, he was probably tapping into an old memory from time spent in Toronto. With a reassuring smile, I told John that I’d help him out with catching the train once the church service was over, and he seemed satisfied…for about 4 minutes!

Suddenly John started trying to leave again. Quickly putting on my detective hat for the second time, I thought about whether he may be in some physical discomfort. I asked him if he was comfortable and he answered, “No.” “Do you need to use the toilet?” I asked. “Yes…for a #2” he replied. Once staff had assisted him in the washroom, John was happy and calm, and back to his usual self.

By playing detective, I was able to both help John and empower myself as a caregiver in the process. So let’s get back to that earlier question, ‘What does being a detective and caring for someone with dementia have in common?’ The answer is simple—it’s all about asking ‘Why?’ Detectives are keen observers, they gather clues and they look beneath the surface to uncover why something is happening or has happened. Caregivers must do the same—we must observe, we must analyze, and most importantly, we must ask ‘Why?’