Page 20 - Leisure Living Magazine Autumn 2016

Coping & Connecting
Continued from page 19
and stick to yes or no questions, lead the conver- sation by providing information rather than ask- ing questions that might seem to test their mem- ory. When it is possible, it is better to try to turn questions into answers.
4) Try changing negatives into positives in- stead of telling your loved one “Don’t do that” say “Let’s do this.”
5) Remember smiling, voice tone, and touch- ing can really help.
Once you connect with a loved one with Alz- heimer’s disease, it is easier to gain their cooper- ation in carrying out their daily living functions. Conversation techniques can help you connect and include using an object such as a flower, a keepsake, or even a cup of snow to start a discus- sion. The loved one may have been an avid skier, have pleasant memories making snowmen or just enjoyed seeing snowfall. A cup of snow might bring back those memories. Physically handing these objects to them may provide a connection to the real world especially if the person was pas-
sionate about an activity or hobby from the past. If a loved one struggles to talk, you may try sing- ing or playing a favorite song for them. A simple song they can remember might be motivation enough to start them to sing along. Many care facilities have singing circles that Alzheimer’s pa- tients’ love to participate in by singing and even playing simple instruments. Music can be a mag- ical way to break through the memory haze they experience.
Bob DeMarco, founder of the Alzheimer’s Reading Room shares some wonderful stories about the care of his mother Dotty. He cared for her eight years. He concludes many of his articles with thanking his mother for teaching him how to be patient and enriching his life as he learned how to care for her.
Theresa Bowen, Ph.D. is an Educational Consultant and Distance Education professor. She conducts technical training for community colleges, universities, and small businesses. With over thirty-nine years’ experience in education and training she recently completed training for faculty members in Tennessee, Kansas and Arizona. Dr. Bowen has a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Toledo, OH with a minor in research methods, media, and business management. Her Bachelor of Science and Masters of Arts degrees are in education from The Defiance College, Defiance OH. When she isn’t glued to a computer she enjoys playing piano, making videos, and painting.
20 |LeisureLiving Autumn 2016
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