Emotion's Role In Dynamics Of Dementia
By Beverly Moore

Question: What part does emotion play in dementia?

Answer: This is a great question! People think dementia is only about memory, but it also affects a person’s ability to reason, perform tasks, initiate and carry out a plan, and to understand and express ideas. This dilemma causes confusion, frustration, and feeling left out of life and relationships with people they care about. I’ve spoken to people with dementia, and they are grieving the loss of their mind’s ability to give and receive clear messages. When they listen to the dementia coach instructing their family members in strategies that give clarity back, they often say things like, “You listen to her. She knows what I’m experiencing.” They may even point out the ways the family members hinder their feeling good about themselves.

To feel confused and left out is not only very uncomfortable, it is tiring, frustrating and often angering. Doing something is often the only way the person can express this discomfort. We need to realize that all behavior means something. It is saying “I feel,” “I want,” “I need.” Care partners can ease this discomfort by learning how to speak to them and work with them in light of the cognitive changes taking place: the inability to ‘hold onto’ information, slow processing of information, little to no storage of information, and slowed retrieval of information. Next month I’ll talk about how to help conversation. If we learn to speak Alzheimer’s we can continue our relationship with the person with dementia.

About The Author
Beverly is owner of Alzheimer Coaching Services. She offers coaching to understand dementia and to learn to accommodate the person through habilitation methods. Her company is located in Quincy and you may reach her at (617) 233-1145, or www.alzheimercoachingservices.com.