Meaning Behind the Behaviour Story for June 2015

An Effective Solution

I always enjoy hearing about how a participant from one of my Cracking the Dementia Code workshops has put what they’ve learned into action. Recently, after a workshop at a care home, I was approached by a maintenance staff member, named Matt, who shared how he had helped a dementia patient with meal times. By gathering some facts, getting to know your residents and using creative thinking, he had found an effective solution for a dementia-related challenge.

Matt related to me how the resident, named Ron, was in the mid stages of dementia and refused to go to the dining room for meals. Despite the efforts of the nursing care staff, who did their best to encourage him by letting him know how delicious and well-prepared the meals were, Ron was steadfast in his refusal.

A New Approach

It was then that Matt suggested a new approach. He had discovered that Ron had once been in the army—a small but important piece of information that would be the key to finding a solution. Ron may not have been swayed by the promise of an intricately prepared meal, but he could be responsive to the type of language used in the army and the strictly regimented structure that military personnel follow. Instead of telling him there was a nice meal waiting for him in the dining room, Matt told Ron that he was expected to be in the mess hall at precisely 17:00 hours. Additionally, they started to use the word ‘grub’ instead of ‘meal’. To the relief of all, the strategy worked and Ron began entering the dining room for his meals.

By doing a bit of detective work, Matt had understood what mattered to Ron. He had deciphered that Ron had not lived a life where he cared about fancy meals. His military background meant that he needed another way to be spoken to in order for him to be encouraged to eat.

Personalized Management

As I always emphasize, we as caregivers need to understand how the individual with dementia perceives reality and the world around them. We can then personalize our approaches to manage challenging behaviours in creative ways. As Matt found, a simple change in communication made all the difference!

If you are looking for new ideas in tackling dementia-related issues you are experiencing with clients or family members, feel free to contact us for support at 778-789-1496.We would be happy to help and it may only take us less than an hour to figure it out!