By Jane Verity © dementiacareinternational
One of the many ways that the Spark of Life Philosophy works is by going behind the labels of difficult behaviours connected with dementia to the root cause; finding the unmet need behind such behaviours.
A common difficult behaviour that many may already have encountered is the accusation of stealing. A person with dementia accuses either a family member or a professional carer of stealing their money or belongings. This behaviour naturally cause concern and distress for everyone involved.
A typical reaction may be to resort to a medical intervention; using psychotropic medication to address the difficult behaviour. This often results in the person with dementia becoming withdrawn with diminished sensory experiences, slurred speech, and at an increased risk of having a fall or becoming incontinent. These devastating side effects may result in the person sitting unfocused, disengaged, and staring into space.
Medication is often resorted to because carers are at their wits end and do not know any other way to resolve a particular problem. There is no doubt that medication has a place however, it should always be the very last resort after every other avenue has been trialed. Medication remains a band-aid solution that does not deal with the underlying cause of the behaviour. So, what can we do that will constructively and respectfully dissolve such a difficult situations?
The Spark of Life Philosophy to a person with dementia making an accusation of stealing is to understand that, in the majority of situations, the person is experiencing an unmet need. Unmet needs can be physical such as a medical illness, hunger or thirst, or pain. These conditions can increase confusion and affect the person’s perception of what is happening around them. Unmet environmental needs can be anything from the experience of home, peace and quiet, pleasant sounds and smells, daylight, or a personally chosen chair. However, when a person makes accusations of stealing, they are most likely to be experiencing an unmet emotional need. Click here to read more about Spark of Life 5 Emotional Needs.
Always work from the assumption that a statement such as, ‘The staff are stealing my clothes!’ shows the state of the person’s spirit. It represents a social, emotional, or spiritual need that is not being met either now or in the past. While the person is definitely experiencing a need, they do not know how to express it exactly in words and therefore convey the meaning embedded in symbolic language.
The Spark of Life Approach enables you to understand the special symbolic language that people with dementia often use to communicate. Accusing someone of stealing is exactly one of these symbolic ways.
The idea that people with dementia communicate via symbols makes sense. This belief is important and integral in enabling us to tap into the meanings behind their special language of spoken and gestured symbols. By focusing on the messages conveyed through rich symbolism, we can move towards a deeper understanding of the individual person.