Dementia Care in Ocean County

How to Answer ‘I Want to Go Home’

At Visiting Angels^® Toms River, our dementia care providers in Ocean County know how to handle difficult situations caused by memory disorders. But if you’re the primary caregiver for a loved one with dementia, navigating these situations can feel much more difficult.

One common situation that can leave family caregivers feeling wrongfooted is when a loved one says they want to go home, even though they’re already there. Below, our dementia care team offers a few tips for families in Ocean County on how to respond in this scenario.

Dementia Care Tips for ‘I Want to Go Home’ Situations

Avoid Correcting the Mistake. It is almost never a good idea to try and correct the mental mistakes of someone with dementia. If your loved one doesn’t recognize their surroundings, you’ll only trigger additional stress and confusion by telling them the place they don’t recognize is their home. Instead, it’s a better idea to agree with their request and buy time by telling them you’ll be going home “soon.”

Redirect Their Attention. Telling your loved one that they can go home soon could help put them at ease. After this, there are a number of ways to direct their attention elsewhere and get their mind off this request. You can ask them to help you with a task, such as tidying the table, talk with them and then direct the conversation to a comforting subject, or put on one of your loved one’s favorite TV shows or movies.

Address Underlying Stressors. When someone with dementia says, ‘I want to go home,’ it means they feel uneasy or uncomfortable. As a caregiver, you can defuse the situation by finding ways to make your loved one more relaxed, and by removing potential stressors that might be triggering discomfort. Remember your tone and body language can either activate feelings of stress or put your loved one at ease.

Dementia Care in Ocean County, NJ

If you have a loved one living with dementia in Ocean County, you can turn to Visiting Angels Toms River for help. Our dementia care helps individuals with dementia age in place, giving them the support and care they need to continue living at home. We also play a vital role in reducing family caregivers’ risk of burnout, providing the support you need to make caring for your loved one more manageable.

Visiting Angels Toms River offers dementia care services in:

• Ocean County
• Toms River
• Brick Township
• Lakewood
• Manchester
• Forked River
• Lavallette
• Ortley Beach
• Mantoloking
• Bay Head
• Point Pleasant
• And the surrounding areas

Contact Visiting Angels Toms River today to schedule a free dementia care consultation for your loved one in Ocean County!