When you are communicating with an Alzheimer’s patient it is important to keep it simple. Your words should be simple and keep your sentences short. Make sure your responses when you are having a conversation with the patient as well as when you are giving directions to the patient are short and clear. It is best not to argue with the patient. Alzheimer’s patients can become easily confused and upset when they are contradicted. Don’t argue or correct the patient, instead simply redirect his or her attention to a new topic. In addition, in order to keep the patient focused on what you are saying, it is important to make eye contact and minimize any potential distractions. 

Alzheimer’s patients respond best to a daily routine. This is because as the routine becomes familiar and he or she knows what to expect. As you establish a routine it is a good idea to let the patient know what is expected of him or her next. For instance, if it is time for the daily bath, tell the patient the steps you both will follow in order to accomplish the bath. This procedure takes the fear of the unknown out of the process and gives the patient something to focus his or her attention on. Among nursing home jobs, becoming a caregiver for an Alzheimer’s patient is one of the most challenging and one of the most rewarding jobs. 

Perhaps the most important requirement for working with Alzheimer’s patients is to be positive in your interactions with them. They now inhabit a confusing and sometimes frightening world due to this disease so the caregiver needs to reassure the patient with positive reinforcement. The very nature of the disease ensures that the patient will make mistakes and experience misunderstandings. It is to be expected. As a caregiver, it is your job to help the patient experience life in a safe and positive environment. Most nursing home jobs require that the caregiver possess a warm and caring nature in order to deal with patients that can sometimes be difficult.