The patient with dementia may be a different person each day or several different people each day. He/she may be sleepy, may be alert and ready to go somewhere, may want to eat, may not want to eat, may want to talk, may want to be alone, may be restless, etc.
The caregiver needs to come to the caregiving situation with a new perspective each day and always be ready to see a new personality. The patient may also be their normal self for many days, and then change for a few days. Don’t take offense at these changes. The disease is causing these changes, and most likely, the patient does not want to be difficult to handle and would be embarrassed at being so.
The caregiver should adjust to the daily situation, become familiar with the patient’s personality, know what they like, and adjust the day to accommodate to the situation. Make a milk shake or some goodie that the patient likes. Serve a favorite food, or take them for a ride in the car to see the scenery. If the patient wants to sleep, that is OK too!
Adjust and accommodate!
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