Search for a retirement home Help and advice Careers Visiting a grandparent with dementia Visits from friends and family can comfort and reduce anxiety amongst loved ones with dementia at what is an otherwise lonely time. www.abbeyfield.com Blog Current: Visiting a grandparent with dementia Tips for children who are visiting a grandparent with dementia Dementia can be confusing for children, which is why it might be helpful to explain what it is and how it’s affecting their grandparent. Visits from friends and family can comfort and reduce anxiety for loved ones living with dementia at what can otherwise be a very lonely time. Taunton School share their tips for visiting a grandparent with dementia. Explain what dementia is Dementia can be confusing and sometimes scary for a child to understand, which is why it may help to explain what it is and how it’s affecting their grandparent. For this, you might decide to use a children’s storybook, such as 'Away with The Fairies' or 'Travels with My Granny'. By having an understanding of what dementia is, your child can be more mindful and respectful of their grandparent's condition. Think about loud noises Noise can be a factor that causes a lot of distress for people living with dementia, which is often overlooked. The slightest of sounds that are undetectable by us, can be a source of discomfort and disorientation for those with the condition. The importance of touch and body language A gentle touch, like a pat of the knee or a touch of the shoulder can help people living with dementia feel less startled and panicked when greeting them. Enter the room with a friendly smile and maintain eye contact to help them feel reassured. Often, we forget about these forms of physical contact but they are powerful forms of communication. Speak slowly and clearly Dementia can impair hearing in older people, making it difficult to hear and follow a conversation. To make communication easier for them, advise your child to speak slowly and clearly, in patient way so that grandparents can understand what is trying to be said. Diverting the conversation It can be frustrating for someone with dementia to realise the deterioration of their condition. To shift focus, talk about what they can do. Talk about things that you see in the room, like a painting, so you can explore together what you like about it. You could also bring along a photo album, so you can talk about pictures of the past, as reminiscing has been shown to relieve feelings of anxiety. Thanks to Taunton School for working with us on this guest blog. Next steps Supporting Residents with Dementia At Abbeyfield, we want all of our residents living with dementia to live the way they want. In this blog, you'll find out about the ways we support residents living with dementia. How we're supporting residents with dementia Four ways music can help people who are living with dementia From reducing agitation to improving social interactions, we take a look at some of the many different ways music can have a positive impact on someone living with dementia The benefits of music for people with dementia Helpful organisations for people living with dementia A list of helpful organisations for people living with dementia. Find organisations who support people living with dementia Did you know we're a charity? Support us and help enrich the lives of older people. Donate About Abbeyfield About us Our new developments Careers Contact us Our environmental aims Housing options Independent Living Supported Housing Residential Care Homes Dementia Friendly Care Homes Care at Home Nursing Homes Helpful advice What type of care do I need? The right time to move FAQs Community Volunteering Fundraising Research Blog go Accessibility Cookie policy Privacy statement Modern slavery statement Complaints process Sitemap Registered in England and Wales, Company 574816, Charity 200719, RSH H1046 Coronavirus Information Cookies on this website Abbeyfield uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. For more details about cookies and how to manage them, see our cookie policy. Accept