Re: Packing Away a Delusion

[Guest guest]

An excellent article, however,

Neither in this article nor in many of the types of articles that suggest

" redirection " is there any mention of the environmental context in which the

person with Alzheimer's lives. Yes, it is important to sometimes go along with

the fantasy rather than offering a correction. However, we often don't look at

external things that might have generated the fantasy in the first place. Saying

that these are just the unexplainables related to Alzheimer's results in

avoiding thinking about what can be done to reduce them or make them less

frightening.

One thing I've seen often is that when the need for stability in a patient's

life is disrupted, what may appear to be bizarre, are actually attempts to

re-establish the stability. I wrote an article on the importance of stability in

aging that might be informative. I don't remember if I gave this reference on a

prior post-sorry.

When the Ground Shakes: A Need for Structure

http://stangoldbergwriter.com/when-the-ground-shakes-a-need-for-structure/

Take Care,

Stan

> Packing Away a Delusion

> March 29, 2011

> By PAULA SPAN

>

> (via Alzheimer's Daily News)

>

> [...]

>

> Experts are always urging family members to " redirect " people with dementia,

rather than point out their errors or argue with them. Their damaged brains

can't retain the facts, and trying to reorient them when they're confused only

causes distress.

>

> http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/unpacking-a-delusion/

>

>