10 Diversion Techniques for Dementia Patients
Caring for someone with dementia is not easy. Their memory loss, confusion, and mood changes can make everyday life unpredictable. You might find yourself wondering how to calm them down when they become anxious or upset. That’s where diversion techniques come in. These are simple ways to shift their attention, ease their distress, and bring them back to a calmer state.
If you need quick answers, here are 10 ways to distract a dementia patient: play their favorite music, give them a simple task, introduce a familiar object, take a short walk, ask about their past, engage them in a hobby, offer food or a drink, use soothing touch, change the environment, and practice deep breathing with them.
1. Play Their Favorite Music
Music has a strong impact on emotions. A familiar song can bring back good memories and improve mood. If your loved one is upset or restless, playing their favorite tunes can help them feel more relaxed. Try using a playlist of songs from their younger years. Singing along or clapping to the rhythm can also keep them engaged.
2. Give Them a Simple Task
People with dementia often feel restless or frustrated when they don’t know what to do. Giving them a simple task can make them feel useful. Let them fold towels, sort objects by color, or wipe the table. These tasks don’t need to be perfect—what matters is keeping their hands and mind busy.
3. Introduce a Familiar Object
Objects that hold special meaning can provide comfort. A favorite blanket, an old photograph, or a well-loved stuffed animal can bring a sense of security. If your loved one becomes anxious, handing them a familiar item may help them feel safe and grounded.
4. Take a Short Walk
A change of scenery can work wonders. If they seem agitated, take a short walk outside or around the house. The movement, fresh air, and different surroundings can improve their mood. If going outside isn’t an option, walking from one room to another can still help break the cycle of stress.
5. Ask About Their Past
Long-term memories stay longer than recent ones. If your loved one is confused or upset, ask them about their childhood, their favorite job, or their wedding day. Simple questions like, “What was your favorite meal as a child?” or “Tell me about your first pet,” can bring back happy memories and start a pleasant conversation.
6. Engage Them in a Hobby
Dementia does not erase all abilities. Many people can still enjoy their old hobbies, even if they need some help. If they loved gardening, let them water plants. If they enjoyed painting, give them a brush and some paper. Even if they don’t do it perfectly, the process itself can be calming and enjoyable.
7. Offer Food or a Drink
Sometimes, restlessness comes from hunger or thirst. A small snack or a cup of tea can be a great distraction. Offer something they enjoy, like a piece of fruit or a favorite cookie. Holding a warm cup of tea or feeling the crunch of a cracker can also provide sensory comfort.
8. Use Soothing Touch
Touch can be very calming. Holding their hand, giving a gentle hug, or lightly rubbing their back can bring comfort. If they enjoy it, a soft blanket over their shoulders or a warm hand massage with lotion can help them feel more relaxed and connected.
9. Change the Environment
Sometimes, the surroundings can be the problem. If they are in a noisy or cluttered room, they may feel overwhelmed. Try turning off the TV, dimming the lights, or moving to a quieter space. A calmer environment can lead to a calmer state of mind.
10. Practice Deep Breathing Together
When someone with dementia is upset, their breathing often becomes fast and shallow. Guiding them through slow, deep breaths can help. Say, “Let’s take a deep breath in… and now breathe out slowly.” Doing this a few times together can lower their stress and bring a sense of calm.
Key Points to Remember
- Music can improve mood and reduce anxiety.
- Simple tasks can keep their mind and hands busy.
- Familiar objects bring comfort and security.
- Walking helps release tension and change focus.
- Talking about their past can bring happy memories.
- Hobbies help them feel engaged and productive.
- Snacks and drinks can distract and provide comfort.
- Gentle touch can be soothing and reassuring.
- Adjusting the environment can reduce stress.
- Deep breathing exercises can help with relaxation.
Thanks for reading! I hope this article helped. If you have any questions, comment below.
I’m searching for a solution for a patient who is fixated on her sole care giver husband. If she can’t see him she searches for him, goes outside or room to room to find him. She frequently asks him if he is her husband. Sometimes he is in the same room with her but she thinks he isn’t there and goes looking, when he speaks to her to let her know he is present she asks him if he knows where (his first name) is. He can’t complete a small or simple task of any kind without her interrupting him saying where were you? I’ve been looking for you, requiring his attention. She wakes him in the night, turning on the light repeatedly for the same reason although he sleeps in their bed right next to her.
Is there any solution to this form of obsessive attachment?
He offered her a small stuffed dog once to distract her and she now carries the puppy constantly but it does not change her need for his constant attention.
Their granddaughter comes in once a week to help with cleaning but the wife doesn’t recognize her or interact with her.
They live in a remote setting on average that requires him to do maintenance & work outside. She does not like to be outside and insists they go back in. He is going to try bringing in a person to live-in & try helping take care of her and help with housekeeping but does not expect his wife to readily accept the new person.
Any suggestions you have would be helpful.