My Mum is in a care home and has Vascular Dementia. She has deteriorated considerably over the past year but still chats away about imagined occurrences.
When I speak on the phone, or visit, I talk of memories, play music or show photographs. I feel like it’s something I feel I should be doing but I question whether it is? I will gently chat about who’s in the photograph or the piece of music, and I’m looking for recognition of a feeling...preferably of course a happy one. After a visit yesterday, I wondered if this could actually be quite tough for Mum. Does her brain comprehend that she doesn’t remember, these people, that occasion, that song? She doesn’t show signs of distress and I certainly don’t bombard her with “Do you remember this?” or “Do you remember that?”. Should I be talking about every day things...putting the washing on the line, what’s for tea?
Is there a dementia specialist here that can tell me how to strike the right balance during my chats with Mum please?
Thanks x
When I speak on the phone, or visit, I talk of memories, play music or show photographs. I feel like it’s something I feel I should be doing but I question whether it is? I will gently chat about who’s in the photograph or the piece of music, and I’m looking for recognition of a feeling...preferably of course a happy one. After a visit yesterday, I wondered if this could actually be quite tough for Mum. Does her brain comprehend that she doesn’t remember, these people, that occasion, that song? She doesn’t show signs of distress and I certainly don’t bombard her with “Do you remember this?” or “Do you remember that?”. Should I be talking about every day things...putting the washing on the line, what’s for tea?
Is there a dementia specialist here that can tell me how to strike the right balance during my chats with Mum please?
Thanks x