Reassuring Note to Dementia Patient

by Elizabeth Nelson

Most people think dementia is merely a simple loss of memory, but it can be so much more than that. Memories don’t always just get lost; sometimes they get distorted, or new memories get made up in the person’s head. The confusion of so many memories, both real and fake, can cause severe anxiety and other serious issues. Awareness of this common problem is important to make sure that all people with dementia are cared for as well as possible, including their psychological needs.

Recently, a Reddit user  posted a photo of a special note a woman wrote to her mother with dementia. The message, written in different colors on a whiteboard, serve as a constant reminder to her elderly mother that the things she’s anxious about are not real concerns. The reminders serve to calm her down when she believes there’s a problem.

The message reads:
“Your meals are paid for.
You’re okay.
Everyone’s fine.
You are not moving.
No one else is moving.
Keep drinking; it will help your memory.
You don’t owe anyone any money.
You haven’t upset anyone.”

But what’s truly amazing about this message is that it has stricken a chord with so many other caregivers and family members of someone with dementia who has very similar anxieties. The post has 111k upvotes and 2.2k comments. It seems that many people have witnessed a loved one with this horrible disease suffer from crippling fears of not being able to pay for things or thinking other people are mad at them.

“‘You can use the bathroom whenever you like,'” wrote Reddit user Kryptosis. “My ex’s great grandma used to think she had been told she wasn’t allowed to go to the bathroom 🙁 Sad and very dangerous.”

Source:
The Alzheimer's Site