Try: In a nursing home adult day center adult foster care home ask the person to assist staff in some way e g help set table sort laundry greet people to help him her feel more useful important keep outdoor clothing out of sight work out a telephone routine with family members if a phone call is reassuring this might involve a daily or occasional call at a time when staff know the family member will be home sometimes merely giving the cr the relative’s phone number to keep in their pocket can be reassuring try a reassuring tape recorded message from a family member it might tell a day care client when he she will be picked up and reassure that family knows where he she is it might help to tell a nursing home resident that he she is loved and missed and that family will visit soon however for some people a tape is more confusing than helpful try having the cr carry a letter that provides a brief biography describing memorable events from his her life for example one such letter told when and where the woman was born whom she married names of her children etc for someone who can still read this can be very reassuring in a long-term care setting have family stay with the cr the first day of a move into a long-term care setting this is often a disorienting frightening experience and family presence may be helpful try a large poster on a resident’s wall or door from family that lovingly describes their last visit together and mentions that they will be coming again soon try a visitors’ book that family and other visitors write in staff will need to reinforce this by reading it with or to the cr it can help convince a resident that he she is still loved and visited and is not forgotten try looking at the resident’s room together and identifying personal possessions but don’t argue or try to be too logical with the person if this approach doesn’t work have someone go to a walk outdoors with the cr who is determined to go home to mother’s house eventually the cr will tire or be distracted if this behavior occurs in the evening try suggesting that the cr spend the night since it’s late and go home in the morning for more suggestion see problems with wandering and problems with sleeping in a day setting try making lunch later in the afternoon some day care centers have found that the time after the meal is when people begin to get restless and want to go home have family members write short notes describing their own activities during the day e g i am going to lunch with ann and will be here to pick up at 2 30pm have a nice time i love you your daughter joan try a note from the family member that instructs the person to remain at the day center until a specific time when he she will be picked up mother please stay here until 2 30pm when i come to get you love jan

Materials: n/a

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Robinson a spencer b & white l 1992 adapted from understanding difficult behaviors geriatric education center of michigan

Keywords: Dementia

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed