ALZHEIMERS - WANTING TO GO HOME

ADVICE FOR CAREGIVERS OR FAMILY

"I want to go home", is often said by patients suffering from dementia or alzheimers in a care home, or even whilst still at their own home.
How do you answer this regular question?
The first thing to be borne in mind is that 'home' may not necessarily be the last home lived in. It could be a home of the past, perhaps a childhood home or a place where they felt especially happy.
Joe Huey of alzheimerhope.com explains that you should never argue with a dementia or alzheimers patient, instead agree and then gently divert the conversation to something else agreeable to the patient.
Joe explains that by 'home' they mean a better place in time, and in their mind. Perhaps they are remembering one of those magic moments of childhood.
When the; " I want to go home." statement crops up, as it certainly will at some time or another, the best reply is; "So do I." By this you mean that you also want to go back in time to some magic moment, then subtly change the subject and find something else to interact with the patient.
Ideally, then take the patient for a walk or a car ride and even make a visit to a sympathetic relative or friend. Your patient will very probably feel that you have taken them 'home', or more likely they will have forgotten the objective. If however, they repeat the request to go home, go back to the care home. They will probably be quite content with the outing, but if they do repeat the 'home' question say "How about tomorrow?"
So it is a question of constant diversion, which will call for patience and imagination. Also, if there is love and empathy in the care home and regular visits from family, the patient may well eventually feel that this is 'home.'
Dealing with dementia and alzheimers sufferers calls for not only love by family members, but a great deal of knowledge that has to be learned. Perhaps the most important is to always remember that no matter how far advanced the illness is, there is still a real person inside.Far too often relatives give up visiting because there loved one doesn't recognize them. This is when real love comes in and the family should use music, touching and singing or talking to break through. Music is an especially powerful tool. They have failing memory and a failing body, but inside they are still themselves and as discussed in other blogs they can be reached with music, love and understanding. Be brave enough to step into' Alzheimers World..'