Does your loved one living with Dementia refuse to go into a care home? Dementia progression leads to a decline in an individual’s cognitive abilities, memory, and judgment. It makes it difficult for them to understand and accept that they require specialized care. A Dementia patient refusing to go into care is not stubbornness but is a result of symptoms that cause confusion and fear of receiving the care.
Navigating this situation requires a positive approach to understanding the patient’s emotional needs while encouraging the acceptance of necessary care.
Let’s look at the approaches you should consider when a dementia patient refuses to go into care.
Why It Is Painful When Dementia Patients Refuse to Go into Care?
Dealing with a refusal of a dementia patient to enter care is very painful. As a caregiver, you do feel a desperate need for specialized care; however, emotional barriers might leave you powerless. These tough decisions could be difficult to navigate without causing distress to your loved one, but the situation can be approached with sensitivity and understanding. Seeing a loved one resist care can cause feelings of guilt, frustration, and helplessness for caregivers who know specialized help is needed.
Maintaining a positive mindset will help accept life-changing decisions even when there is a show of resistance. The challenge is finding the most delicate approach to persuade your loved one to take the right amount of care while still being dignified. It is not an easy thing, and you may feel conflicted with the situation, but with time, love, and strength, you can move through it. This is a tough journey, but not impossible, as you will discover a path that balances the needs of your loved one with your emotional needs.
At What Stage Should a Person with Dementia Not Live Alone?
Dementia is a progressive condition affecting 58 million people globally. While it starts mildly, over time, it morphs into a severe condition that erodes the cognitive powers of an individual. The decision to move a person with dementia to a care home, therefore, depends upon the stage of dementia the person is suffering.
If you recognize that the dementia patient is struggling to complete daily tasks alone or needs external help more often, it is a sign that the patient should receive external care. Leaving a person with dementia alone risks their safety.
How to Handle a Dementia Patient When They Refuse to Go Into Care?
This is a tough question but not impossible to answer. Patience helps, and you have to be strong while going through the ordeal. Now, let’s discuss some tested and proven approaches to persuade a dementia patient refusing to go into care:
It All Begins with Understanding
The first step in persuading a dementia patient to refuse personal care involves understanding the reasons they are refusing care. At this point, it is important to act sensitively and not dismiss their apprehensions as trivial. With the information you gain, you can formulate a better strategy. For example, the patient might be feeling distrustful of their new surroundings. In such cases, it is important to make them understand that the caregivers are there to help them and demonstrate how professional care can make their life a lot easier.
How do you respond to a dementia patient who wants to go home?
- Be upfront about your concerns, but do not alarm the individual.
- Take time to make them understand; it is important to not rush the process.
- Make them feel valued, this helps in building trust.
- Don’t put forward too many demands at once, it may confuse the patient.
- Acknowledge their concerns and make them feel dignified.
Give Them Choices
Dementia patients, like any other group of individuals, deserve to be able to make choices for themselves. While one approach may not work for them, they may be more amenable to other options if provided. Adapting to the situation is key, especially in sensitive situations like these.
Dementia robs an individual of their personal independence, for these reasons, and also ethical ones, it is important for caregivers to make them feel as valued as possible. Life should not seem burdensome to them, instead, they should be looking forward to the future with a promise of happiness.
Reinforcing Positivity
Positive reinforcement refers to encouraging every step taken towards a desired outcome through small tokens such as praises or rewards. Perhaps conveniently, this form of persuasion does not rely on direct communication; instead, it is a form of subconscious programming.
It proves to be immensely helpful for people who feel afraid to voice their concerns directly to the dementia patient. By the time you reach the stage where face-to-face conversation is inevitable, the person becomes much more likely to accept your decisions.
Address Their Feelings of Loneliness and Depression
It is common for a dementia patient to fall into loneliness and depression. Such concerns should be addressed immediately. Remember, the ultimate aim of dementia care is to make the afflicted feel at home and at ease. If the patient is not feeling comfortable in their new surroundings, the entire process can be in danger of derailment.
Talk with the patient regularly and note down any emotional distress they may be feeling. While it is natural for the person to take time adapting to the new surroundings, if the issue becomes persistent or if it looks like the environment is taking a toll on their mental health, taking action is necessary.
Conclusion
Tackling a dementia patient refusing to go into care requires fortitude of thought and action. It is natural to feel disoriented or lost when your loved one is diagnosed with dementia and refuses to go into a care home, but with a positive attitude informing your actions, going through this difficult time becomes manageable. The well-being of the dementia patient must be paramount in such cases. You should listen to their concerns and be patient in your approach. Avoid bombarding the patient with a litany of complex information and monitor their mental health closely. Ultimately, it is your constant support that the patient needs the most.
Do you know anyone going through the ordeal of care refusal? Monarch Gardens can help! Our Memory Care can make the patient feel at home, with a focus on social, psychological, spiritual, and physical well-being.
