Repetition and Alzheimer’s Disease

Have you recently started taking care of your loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease?
If you have, then you might have noticed that your elderly loved one repeats themselves often. They might tell you the same story time and time again. They might ask the same question they asked you 5 minutes ago. This is common in people who have Alzheimer’s disease. It can be frustrating. However, there are some tips on how you can respond to these situations.

Responding in an Appropriate Manner

The most important thing that you should do in these situations is to respond in an appropriate manner. Your elderly loved one can’t help that they often repeat themselves. You might easily become frustrated or angry. However, instead of doing that, you should respond to them calmly. Acknowledge what they are asking you or what they are saying. Let them know that you understand what is being asked or what is being said. This will work better than getting annoyed with them.

Distracting Your Loved One

If your elderly loved one continues to become fixed on a certain idea, even after you have acknowledged them, you should try distracting them. You can try changing the subject. Ask them if they want to get a snack or if they would like to go for a walk. Make sure it is an appropriate time for them to do these things. Distracting them might get them to stop talking about what they are fixated on.

Redirecting Them to Something Else

Redirection often works for someone with Alzheimer’s disease. It is a way to get your loved one to focus on something entirely different. For instance, you will want to choose an activity that uses all their energy, so they can’t focus on what they were originally repeating. For instance, if you asked your loved one if they would like to get a snack and they said yes, have them help you out with this. See if they can help you organize the snacks on the cupboard or even have them help get things out of the cupboard. The purpose of doing this is to get them involved in doing something other than what their mind was focused on in the first place.

These are some of the tips on things you can do if your loved one is repeating themselves. Remember, they can’t help that they repeat themselves. This is just part of Alzheimer’s disease. Try to keep yourself calm and use these tips to help your loved one get off the subject they are fixated on.