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When your elderly parent gets diagnosed with dementia, they may have a hard time accepting the care they need so it’s important to learn How to Help a Stubborn Parent Living with Dementia.
In the early stages of the disease, people with dementia may be aware of the signs, but they might also refuse to believe the consequences of neglecting care.
Dementia is a drastic life change, so it is understandable for an individual to have a tough time.
However, there are some steps you can take to help your stubborn parent attain the attention they need after a dementia diagnosis.
Table of Contents
Explain the Benefits of Support
Your parent might be against receiving professional support because they are of the benefits it provides.
Be open and clear about the positive effects that elder living with cognitive support can have on their minds and bodies.
With high levels of nursing, specialized care, and memory-engaging offered by the memory care home, your loved one might start to understand the perks.
Many older adults are skeptical about moving into a care home.
Fortunately, Sagecare, a well-recognized retirement home, is known for its mission to empower the elderly.
When your parent realizes that they can thrive in the new environment, they may become more drawn to professional care.
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Put Yourself in Their Shoes
It can be challenging for you to understand the reason behind your parents’ stubbornness if you don’t put yourself in their shoes.
Think about how the dementia diagnosis is affecting their life.
If you were in their place and your entire life turned upside down, would you react differently?
Think about how you would want people around you to act and try to accommodate your loved one accordingly.
Be Straightforward
When a senior has dementia, too much information can overwhelm them sometimes.
It is essential to stick to the main point of the conversation and avoid spiraling too many topics into one.
Try to leave things simple so that your parent can quickly grasp the topic and follow along without problems.
If your parent starts to struggle with following a conversation, they might get frustrated, resulting in stubbornness and other problems.
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Don’t Assert Power
Try to refrain from pushing, nagging, or yelling at your parents when you communicate with them.
Making power moves or providing them with ultimatums can backfire and cause significant damage to your relationship with them.
It is also helpful to avoid saying certain things to a person with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, such as a mistake they made or something that will lead to an argument.
If you assert too much power, your parent might feel offended and do the opposite of what you asked them to do.
It is crucial to speak to them calmly to ensure they don’t find any room to be stubborn during, for example, and conversation about downsizing from their current home.
Although it is necessary to be tough and assertive sometimes, too much pressure can turn things in the wrong direction.
Set a Positive Mood
Being patient with your parent and using positive language to communicate can help them better understand the message you’re trying to deliver.
When your loved ones are in a good mood, they can use their calm mindset to evaluate what you are saying and the benefits of listening to you.
Helping a stubborn parent living with dementia is challenging, but the process is even more burdensome for them.
Think about how each step you take affects your loved ones before you make any significant moves which is a major step learning How to Help a Stubborn Parent Living with Dementia.
