Technique Tuesdays

Coping with daily routines when caring for an Alzheimer's patient can bestow upon caregivers the feeling of blindness and uncertainty.  Do not fret, Technique Tuesdays can help guide and enlighten along the way.

Alzheimer's patients are in need and also deserve to be understood.  In a video I share with you Naomi Feil's technique is designed to meet emotional demands of our loved ones.  This technique entails validation of individuals with Alzheimer's disease.  To define validation in meaningful terms: Validation is accepting these individuals for who they are here and now with empathy and without judgment. 

As caregivers are well aware there are many different angles one can approach emotional commitments.  For example, if an Alzheimer's patient is crying and in disarray because she misses her mother who has since passed, you might attempt to use the technique of touch to comfort.  Place the palms of your hands around the jawline of this distressed woman, look into her eyes with concern, and speak words of compassion.  This technique of touch mimics how a mother's touch might feel.  The warmth of your caress and the alertness of your focus will flow throughout her soul giving her reconciliation and alleviation and hopefully bring a smile to her face. 

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs illustrates the stages a patient with Alzheimer's disease (those without the disease enter these stages as well) will go through in his/her lifetime, in any given order.

Image from dreamstime.com, Hierarchy of Needs

At the top of the pyramid is Self-actualization, which caregivers strive to assist our loved ones to reach before expiration. Self-actualization encompasses overall acceptance of one's life as a whole. In the case of the dear woman missing her mother, she would be in the stage of Love and Belonging. In order for the woman to get past this stage, she needs to have the needs of friendship, family, and sexual intimacy met. As caregivers, showing tenderness is an approach that will enable a person to move to the next stage in his/her life. 

Fulfillment and gratification is on the top of the list in priorities when caring for an Alzheimer's patient.  Carrie Gallahan is a wonderful example dedication to these delicate clients.  She entrusts in the Validation Technique to assist her to deliver joy and appreciation to our Alzheimer's patients; as do I and countless others I know.

Does anyone have an experience that allowed them to assist an individual with Alzheimer's disease to the next stage in their life?  Or perhaps someone has heard of Validation Therapy previously?  Opinions and adventures are welcome to be shared as I am anxiously awaiting your responses.