Unfortunately, seniors are often stereotyped as existence forgetful and fifty-fifty repetitive. Whether it's a story from their past or an amusing joke they heard recently, some of our aging loved ones practice have a trend to repeat themselves. If an older developed is good for you, these occurrences are usually infrequent enough that nearly of us merely accept listening to the aforementioned thing more once. Although we may coil our optics internally, humoring a loved one in this situation is not confusing or crushing.

Notwithstanding, there is a difference betwixt seniors who repeat things every in one case in a while and the elderly repeating questions and stories throughout the day due to Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. It can be difficult for a frustrated caregiver to know how to reply graciously to repetitive questioning or a senior'south excessive talking.

Research suggests that verbal repetition is more common amidst individuals in the earlier stages of dementia and among those with Alzheimer'due south illness versus other types of dementia. While there is no foolproof way to get a senior to stop a particular dementia behavior, certain tips and techniques can exist used to handle repetition in a way that minimizes their confusion and preserves your sanity.

4 Common Dementia Repeating Scenarios and How to Answer

Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, occupational therapist and dementia care expert, discusses how family caregivers can answer to four repetitive communication cycles that are common amongst seniors with dementia.

1. "Practice I have a md'southward appointment today?"

Many family members who are new to caregiving oftentimes detect themselves wondering, "Why do dementia patients repeat themselves?" Learning more almost a loved one'due south status volition help you navigate their endless questions (and other dementia behaviors) with patience and understanding.

In the early stages of dementia, your loved one is likely to have the greatest difficulty storing and recalling new information. Some days, they volition be able to recollect contempo things similar appointments, social plans and recent conversations. On other days, Snow explains that "their wiring won't work." When a loved one is repeatedly asking the aforementioned question, family caregivers must recognize that it's because they are having trouble with their declining brusk-term retention.

In these cases, Snow says that a caregiver should do two things: apologize to allow the senior know that it's okay they are experiencing lapses in memory and help get them out of the repetitive "question loop." A good manner to break the cycle is by giving your loved one something else to do. This simple approach is known as redirection and is very useful for managing troublesome dementia behaviors. Snow recommends redirecting dementia patients to elementary yet engaging tasks in which they are probable to exist successful. Activities like folding laundry or sorting modest items (nuts, bolts, buttons, beads, etc.) will requite them something else to think about while also giving them a sense of purpose.

Sample Response: "Yes, y'all do. I'k lamentable, I thought I mentioned it earlier, only maybe I didn't." (Intermission for a response. If they say something, utilize some of their ain words to affirm their feelings, then add a new thought pattern to redirect.) "Can you help me prune these coupons until it's fourth dimension to exit for the appointment?"

2. "When are we going to that doc'southward appointment?"

In this scenario, Snowfall suggests that you lot avert telling your loved one that they've already been to the dr.'s appointment. "The primal is to let them know that the doctor doesn't demand to see them again, without contradicting them when their encephalon is saying that they haven't been to the physician yet," she explains. Join their reality.

Confronting a dementia patient and challenging their perception of reality will only increase their anxiety and can even trigger outbursts and agitation. When seniors with dementia are constantly corrected, they often begin to feel as though they cannot trust themselves. This loss of command can exist frustrating and fifty-fifty frightening for seniors with memory loss. Perpetual confusion causes them to be fifty-fifty more likely to enquire you things repeatedly in the future, and it can even breed suspicion of those around them.

Sample Response: "I just spoke with the doctor on the phone and she says that she doesn't demand to see yous once again anytime before long."

3. "Where are nosotros going again?"

Garrulous is a less than flattering way to refer to a person who loves to talk. Instead of the endearing qualities of a chatterbox, those that are referred to as garrulous are often associated with being lilliputian, tedious and ultimately—exhausting. Existence trapped in the motorcar with a non-end talker who keeps repeating questions most where you're going or when you'll get at that place can exist exceedingly frustrating. However, Snow says that dementia caregivers should avoid ignoring their intendance recipients or lashing out in these situations.

The key to handling this scenario finer is to answer to your loved one and then engage them in doing something else. Distracting activities that involve music will probably exist the virtually constructive, especially in a setting with limited options for redirection like a automobile. According to Snow, music is i of the few skills that dementia patients retain. Endeavour playing older music that will be familiar to your loved one and encouraging them to sing along.

Sample Response: "We're going to the doc's office. Hey, Mom, I fabricated a CD for united states of america to listen to. Information technology has some of your favorite songs on it. Run into if y'all can recognize the artists."

4. "Have I ever told you about that time…?"

The elderly repeating stories over and over again is a common complaint of families and caregivers everywhere. But, while these litanies tin can be long and difficult to endure with 18-carat involvement, Snow notes that they are an important communication technique for a person who is losing their retention.

Your loved one wants to engage with you lot, just, to them, information technology may seem as though you (their caregiver) are always in accuse of the conversation. This can make them feel anxious, stupid and fifty-fifty depressed. Dementia patients frequently choice old stories that they know they tin retrieve so they tin can have dialogues with other people instead of being talked at all the time. Communication abilities often reject as dementia progresses, but even feeble attempts at social interactions are crucial for maintaining relationships and preventing feelings of loneliness.

Asking a dementia patient to elaborate is a supportive method that lets them know you want to talk with them. Snowfall also encourages families to certificate these stories in some manner even if y'all've heard them all dozens of times. Dementia patients will gradually lose their ability to repeat stories. In the meantime, these recollections may even provide important personal information that volition be helpful throughout your caregiving journey. Snowfall says that listening to and recording a loved i's stories will help their family unit members become to know them better. "As they lose themselves, yous can help them reestablish the connections," she points out.

Sample Response: "Really? Tell me about it."