Removing Dementia Patients from Their Familiar Surroundings
Transfer Trauma, a condition affecting older adults a few days after moving from their private residence to a long-term care facility, can cause distress and disorientation for dementia patients. This trauma can exacerbate cognitive decline, cause increased agitation, aggression, or withdrawal, and disrupt their "lived experience"—the subjective sense of their space and daily life continuity.
To minimize the impact of transfer trauma, caregivers and care facilities can employ several strategies:
- Involve the Patient in the Process: Include the person with dementia in discussions and preparation for the move to reduce feelings of loss of control and anxiety. This may involve visiting the new environment beforehand and gradually introducing the patient to the new setting.
- Preserve Familiarity: Create a living space that incorporates familiar objects, photographs, and routines from the previous home to help maintain a sense of continuity and security.
- Consistent Communication and Visits: Caregivers and family members should maintain regular contact with the patient after relocation to provide reassurance and emotional support, strengthening the patient's sense of connection and belonging.
- Staff Training and Environment Design: Memory care staff trained to recognize behavioral changes and manage agitation through calm communication, intentional environmental design, and calming activities can reduce transfer-related stress.
- Gradual Transition and Timing: Planning the transition carefully, watching for declining safety and self-care abilities, and choosing an appropriate time to move can lessen the trauma associated with sudden or ill-timed relocations.
While specific studies or detailed protocols on "transfer trauma" in dementia patients are limited, these strategies align with best practices in dementia care communities to support patients' lived space and experience during relocation.
Creating a familiar environment is crucial when relocating a dementia patient. This can be achieved by carrying some old items, maintaining the same wall color and texture, and placing furniture in the same positions as in the previous home. Respecting the privacy of the dementia patient is also important, allowing them time alone while making it easy for them to find others to socialize with. It is recommended to ask the dementia patient about their preferences regarding the design and makeup of their new living space.
Safety and security are essential considerations when preparing a new home for a dementia patient. This includes keeping doors locked, floors dry, and medicines in a safe cabinet.
In conclusion, by adopting these strategies, caregivers and care facilities can help create a comfortable and familiar environment for dementia patients during relocation, reducing the impact of transfer trauma and improving their overall well-being.
- Amidst the challenges of dealing with dementia and science, it's crucial to address the mental health concerns during the health-and-wellness aspect of aging, including Transfer Trauma experienced by older adults during relocation.
- When creating a familiar environment for dementia patients during relocation, mental health professionals should consider strategies such as maintaining consistency in wall color, texture, and furniture arrangement, incorporating familiar items, and respecting the patient's privacy, all of which support cognitive functioning and emotional well-being during the aging process.
