Sometimes we are so caught up in who’s right and who’s wrong we forget what’s right and  wrong.

I rarely know why the times I dig my heels in and have to be ‘right’, but it happens to all of us, and to some of us all of the time! Once the symptoms of dementia get in the way, generally speaking, everyone always thinks the person with dementia is wrong or has made the mistake, forgotten the appointment, and so on, and the person without dementia always believes they are right. Of course, statistically speaking, this is not possible! In the mid to later stages of dementia, there is little point in telling a person with dementia they are wrong, as they will not be able to see it, let alone accept it.

Many people with dementia are deeply forgetful, but not always, and often they can recall a lot of information, given the time and chance. Setting up strategies to assist them with memory recall like large calendars or white notice boards, having lists of things like daily and weekly events, medications, phone numbers, and using assistive technology is very helpful, and enables more independence and empowerment. Maybe not in last stages of dementia, but certainly before then. Adapting to a forgetful person is hard work, and requires a lot of patience and rearranging of your opinions, as well as the removal of the need to be right. It might be worth remembering,

“Dementia care is caring for people who often do not know they need care, and don’t want to be in care; no wonder they may become angry and upset!”