Strategies Flashcards
What is reality orientation?
Reality orientation is a strategy whereby information about the environment of a person with
dementia is provided to them via the use of aids and prompts, in order to orientate them to their
surroundings. It seeks to orientate the person with dementia to the “time”, “place” and “person” of
their immediate environment.
What are validation strategies?
Validation involves encouraging the person with dementia, by accepting their reality. Validation
therapy is based on the idea that a person with dementia may be sorting through past issues in the present or retreating to a more comfortable place due to feeling confused about the present.
Validation strategies acknowledge and empathise with the person’s feelings and reality. When using
this technique, you do not correct the person or argue about the truth, because it is real to them,
but rather focus on ‘entering into their world’ and orienting to their reality.
What is distraction?
istraction is a strategy that involves trying to shift the individual’s attention (i.e. distracting) from
something that is causing them distress to something more positive.
What are reminiscences?
Reminiscence therapy can also be used to promote memory and recall by reviewing past events and
using the assistance of multimedia memory aids. Reminiscence is a way of reviewing past events
that is usually a very positive and rewarding activity. Even if the person with dementia cannot
participate verbally, it can still give them pleasure to be involved in reflections on their past.
When to use reality orientation?
Reality orientation is best used as a passive 24 hour approach (rather than as a confronting
approach, which is not recommended). The 24 hour reality orientation technique gently brings the
person back from their world to the present reality. This can be achieved by guiding the person
throughout the day and night to be aware of:
• Who they are
• Where they are
• The time
• The date
Benefits of reality orientation?
- Relevant and grounding
- Useful with socialisation
- Simple for care workers
- It is passive (i.e. consistent)
- Non-confronting
What areas to cover with reality orientation?
The use of large face clocks and calendars in different rooms, maps and signs to indicate places of
their living environment, frequent greetings etc. are common strategies to help persons with
dementia to cope with their daily living.
When to use validation strategies?
When they are in distress, feeling different emotions, when they seem to have retreated or be sorting through issues from the past.
What areas to cover in validation strategies?
Try to understand why the person is behaving a certain way (i.e. the trigger or underlying
concern for their behaviour) then, if necessary, try to figure out a way to address it.
• Don’t get caught up in whether or not something makes sense. A person with dementia may not
be able to piece everything together but their emotions are still valid. In fact, their distress or
anxiety can be amplified when they aren’t being understood. Therefore, it is important to accept
their emotions, as these have more validity then the logic that leads to them.
• Ask specific questions about how certain actions or situations make the person feel. After you
receive an explanation of those feelings, validate them with phrases that show your support,
such as: “I’d be upset too, if that happened to me.” or “I understand what makes you feel that
way.”
Benefits of validation strategies?
- Encourages dignity and self-esteem, as the individual is not challenged
- Non-confrontational
- It takes a positive approach - relies on saying ‘yes’rather than ‘no’
- Can reduce anxiety
When to use distraction?
. Distraction is useful when a
person living with dementia is being aggressive, behaving inappropriately, is feeling agitated or
anxious or engaging in repetitive behaviours or phrases.
What areas to cover in distraction?
When using distraction, it is important to
consider what the individual is experiencing and what distraction will ultimately improve their
current wellbeing; distractions that offer no benefit to the individual are not useful and should not
be offered. Individual’s care plans should include details of what activities each individual enjoys, so that all care workers can present useful and targeted distractions.
Benefits of distraction?
- Client’s attention is diverted
- Focuses on the positive’s in the individual’s life
- Helps build a strong relationship between carer and individual.
What areas to cover with reminiscences?
Making a chronological history of the person with dementia can help with reminiscence and
provides information for people who may interact with them. A ‘This Is Your Life book’ is a visual
diary. Similar to a family photo album, it can also include:letters, postcards, certificates and other
memorabilia. It can provide a great deal of pleasure and pride for a person who may be feeling
increasingly bewildered in the present.
When to use reminiscences?
Promote memory and recall by reviewing past events. As a means of distraction as well.
