“Give me a hand” and other confusing statements

4

Have more questions and don't know where to turn?


Join our community and get access to monthly support calls, an online chat forum for questions, and even monthly 1:1 calls with Rachael! CLICK HERE for more information.

Harry sat in his wheelchair, pushing and pulling himself forward and backwards using his feet. He was restless, and in a late stage of dementia. 

Harry spotted me. “Hey, blondie!” he called out. I laughed and turned around.

“Yeah, Harry?” I responded. 

“Will you give me a hand?” he asked.

“Sure—with what?” I said, walking towards him.

“With yours,” Harry explained, outstretching his hands.

This wasn’t the first, nor the last, time that I watched someone with dementia take a figurative statement and make it literal. 

I saw the same thing happen during a cognitive evaluation last week. The doctor was asking her client a few orientation and memory questions. 

“Now, if I said, ‘Can you lend me a hand?’ what would I mean?” she asked. Her patient, without even thinking, outstretched his hand to her.

Many people, especially with certain types of dementia, have trouble understanding figures of speech. The phrase, “Hop in the shower” may result in someone actually jumping into the tub. One thing that I caution caregivers against is using the word “let’s” when they are talking to someone with dementia. For example, saying, “Let’s take a bath now,” may result in the person with dementia assuming you’ll also be joining them in the tub.

Communicating with someone who has dementia can be tricky sometimes, but it helps if we know little points like this.

Liked it? Take a second to support Rachael Wonderlin on Patreon!
Become a patron at Patreon!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rachael Wonderlin is an internationally-recognized dementia care expert and consultant. She has a Master’s in Gerontology and is the author of three published books with Johns Hopkins University Press. Rachael owns Dementia By Day, a dementia care consulting and education company.

16 things poster
Get the FREE “16 Things” poster!

You're not alone!

Get personal support from Rachael and connect with other Caregivers when you join our community.

16 Things I Would Want If I Got Dementia

Get the FREE “16 Things” poster for your personal use—or better yet—your dementia care community’s staff break room!

I wrote this poem years ago, but to date, it’s the most popular piece I’ve ever created.

16 things poster
Shopping Cart