Communicating with dementia
13 March 2024Unbelievable Stories and Heartwarming Moments from the Field
Working in the care industry can be extremely difficult – seeing people in pain, or people at the end of their lives can be emotionally draining. Equally, it can be rewarding and bring joy to the caregivers. Please find a few stories from our staff that are both unbelievable and heartwarming.
I visited the client almost every day for a few months before she passed away. Every day, I would chat with her while the other caregiver prepared all the personal care items. I never really received any verbal response or body language signs suggesting the client could hear or understand me. But then one day, as I was chatting to her like normal, I noticed she squeezed my hand and turned to smile at me. I stood there for a minute, squeezing her hand and smiling back. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but at the time, it meant everything. She passed away about 2 weeks later. I still miss that visit.
On my first visit with this client, I remember being taken aback because when we were alone in the bathroom, she just started crying. I consoled her and tried to find out why. It was because she felt like a burden to her family. I remember sitting there with her while she was on the toilet for a good 10 minutes, discussing her feelings and why I don’t think she’s a burden. Then, we would have a little catch-up every time I saw her about her feelings. The last time I went to see her, she had become more delirious because of the seizures and meds but kept thanking me for listening to her. That client has a special place in my heart.
This client has verbal communication difficulties. She tends to use body expressions to communicate her needs and wants. At first, it was so difficult for me to pick up on some of the expressions, but now it’s a different story. We chat a lot, and I have managed to pick up on her likes and dislikes. Also, her foster mom expressed that the moment I enter her room and call out her name, she smiles and giggles. The client’s mom said the smiling only happens when she has bonded so well with someone, and that’s very rare for her. That meant so much to me, knowing I bring joy and laughter whenever I support her.
