
From The Best Friends” Approach to Alzheimer’s Care
by Virginia Bell, M.S.W. and David Troxel, M.P.H.
Do:
- Listen carefully
- Help a person fill in the blanks
- Read facial expressions and body language and try to respond appropriately
- Give compliments
- Ask opinions
- Ask open-ended questions
- Give generous praise
- Use common sense
- Enjoy the person in every way possible
- Take the blame and apologize
- Be sincere
- Use the person’s life story regularly
- Use positive language
- Rely on humor
- Keep language simple
Don't:
- Argue, confront, correct
- Give orders, make demands
- Talk down to a person
- Talk about a person in his or her presence as if the person were not there
- Ask questions that require remembering too many facts
- Try to explain or prepare too far in advance
- Take negative comments personally
- Give too many choices
- Take anything for granted
For more information about the Best Friends approach to Alzheimer's care, contact the Alliance office!