When caring for dementia patients, you want to do everything you possibly can to promote a happy and safe environment.
When communicating with a patient, it helps to:
Speak in a calm, low voice.
Maintain a welcoming posture.
Explain your actions in simple terms.
Give them time to process the information.
Allow them time to respond before taking action.
When entering a patient's room, take note of the surroundings. If a patient becomes angry or aggressive, you want to quickly de-escalate the situation by:
Standing between them and the door.
Removing objects that could be used as a weapon.
Speaking in a calm but firm tone.
Using their name when asking short questions.
Turning on music or their favorite TV show.
If at any point you feel unsafe or that the situation has gotten out of control, seek assistance immediately.
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