Altered Memory Home Care path

When a seniors memory has been altered the mind can compensate with emotion focused behaviors. Emotion focused behaviors can be most evident with a problem. Emotion is a strong feeling. Feelings are generated from the senses, touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing. With memory loss the emotions can respond and catch the seniors attention quicker. Emotion focused behaviors can be described as purposeful but not always productive.

Minimization is an emotional response to a problem. Minmize is to reduce the problem to the smallest size possible, rendering it unimportant. This can appear useful as it provides the senior with needed time to assess the problem. Minimization is unproductive if the senior dismisses the problem and does not reach out for help.

Projection, displacement, and suppression of anger occur when the senior expresses anger toward a less threatening thing or person. The senior kicks the leg of a coffee table shouting I should saw you off for that. The senior satisfies the immediate (emotion) feeling by expressing the anger toward the toward the person or object near by. This lessens the threat to a point the senior is better able to deal with it. The difficulty is reality can be distorted as in the wood coffee table extended a leg to trip the senior. The disturbance of relationships can occur with the senior shouting out to persons in the room. Suppressing the anger can lead to stress related physical symptoms.

Anticipatory preparation is the mental rehearsal of possible consequences of behavior or outcomes of stressful situations. Many senior organizations use what to do lists for mock emergencies. The lists often involve placement of the phone and important numbers in the room the seniors spends most of the time. Preparation can help the senior to develop some perspective as well as prepare for the worst. When this anticipation creates unmanageable stress, as in the neighbor fell and broke a hip in their own home, I have a lot to do. Spending large periods of time (worry) dwelling on a problem that may occur is not productive.

Attribution is the finding of personal meaning in the problem. This is my luck, the will of the divine, or personal karma that this problem should reoccur in my life. This can provide a sense of comfort for the senior. Attribution is not productive when the senior no longer participates in the process to solve the problem.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com staff have been taught to recognize emotion focused behaviors. Home Care Path staff begin by discussing the problem and reviewing all information. Staff and the senior then form a written statement of the problem that all agree on. Staff and the senior then identify the individual that may be able to solve the problem. An appointment is made to meet with the person.