10 Strategies when Caring for Someone with Dementia

Caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s takes a great deal of patience. Jo Huey, an Alzheimer’s caregiver for over 30 years, shares the following ten compassionate strategies that she learned based on her own personal experiences.

1. Agree, never argue
2. Divert, never reason
3. Distract, never shame
4. Reassure, never lecture
5. Reminisce, never say “remember”
6. Repeat, never say “I told you”
7. Say “do what you can“, never say “you can’t”
8. Ask, never demand
9. Encourage, never condescend
10. Reinforce, never force

Huey, 1996