| Please DO... Listen Use short, simple sentences and familiar words Give directions, one step at a time Be patient; expect repetition (e.g., the same question, over and over) Help them fill in the blanks Read their facial expressions and body language (even over words) and respond accordingly Ask for heir opinion Watch your own body language; keep it calm, positive and reassuring (the person will tend to mirror your mood) Give them praise, love, and lots of reassurance Let them help, even if they don't do the job "quite right" - fix it later Respect and use their "best" time of day -- for making decisions, plans, and doing activities Stick to as consistent a routine as possible (do the same things at the same time of day) Keep your sense of humor and laugh with them Keep the environment as calm and unchanging as possible, without too many distractions (e.g., TV, radio, etc. at the same time) Let the person make as many decisions as they still can (unless that decision jeopardizes their own safety or someone else's safety) Please DON'T... Correct or argue (even when
you know they are wrong!)
Expect perfection Speak for them Do things for them that they can still do for themselves Use long, logical explanations Remind a person that they forget (e.g., "Don't you remember we talked about this yesterday?"...) Talk down to a person or treat them like a child Talk about a person in his or her presence as if they are not there (e.g., "Yesterday he couldn't remember our address."...) Ask questions of the person that requires remembering facts Try to explain or prepare too far in advance Rush or hurry them Give too many choices Try to teach the person new things Take negative comments they might make personally; it's the disease talking (e.g., "You're stealing from me!") Give the person orders, demands (e.g., "Don't do that!") Refuse help from others! |