WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPATHY IN CARING FOR DEMENTIA PEOPLE?
Friday 16th Jul
Caring for the elderly requires patience, knowledge, affection and empathy.
Sometimes we come across people who arrive in old age with a Dementia, Depression, ertain rebellion, sadness and even a feeling of revolt...
Knowing how to deal with emotions and putting oneself in the assisted person's position is fundamental for the caregiver, who can be a professional.
*What is empathy?*
Empathy is defined as the ability of a person to put himself in the place of another in the same situation.
Many think it is about feeling what the other is feeling, which is not true, since each person's emotions and thoughts are unique and exclusive.
It becomes increasingly necessary to use empathy when caring for the elderly and then put ourselves in the place of the assisted and thus reflect on what our behavior would be in the face of the situation he is going through and how we would like it to be done with us.
*How important is empathy?*
When the caregiver does not use empathy when caring for the elderly, it makes their work more complicated, however experienced and skilled it may be.
This is because the task will be performed almost automatically, within professional knowledge, but without understanding the inner pain and emotional needs of the assisted.
Even to make a dressing, empathy must be used.
*How to promote empathy?*
Being empathetic means trying to meet the needs of the elderly, imagining their position in each situation experienced and understanding their emotions and reactions to them.
Empathy can be promoted as follows:
*Maintain eye contact
The elderly are needy and love eye contact. Looking at the other person while he speaks promotes the feeling that you are paying attention.
Maintain caring and understanding eye contact while talking to him and vice versa.
*Listen
It is common when an elderly person becomes ill and needs care that their whole routine is changed.
He had habits and will struggle to adapt to changes, not to mention coping with the disease.
Listening eliminates judgment and promotes greater understanding of your behavior.
*Be understanding
To promote empathy is to understand that behind a fragile and limited body there is a being with doubts, fears, pains, insecurities and feelings of loneliness.
To be empathetic in caring for the elderly is to understand this moment, encouraging them to regain their spirit and the joy of living.
To be understanding is never to tell an elderly person who cries that he has no reason to do so. It is to sit beside him, hold his hand and stay with him until he feels better and wants to talk about it.
*Understand body language
Empathy lies in understanding and respecting the assisted person's body language.
Sometimes he will not want to get out of bed. Others will be sensitive, look distant, angry or sad and the empathetic caregiver will perceive and respect these expressions.
Moments of fragility can be excellent opportunities to look at the elderly with more affection, listen carefully and learn to know and understand their feelings and attitudes.
Now that you know how to use empathy when caring for the elderly, how about following my blog to discover other ways to promote well-being in old age ?!
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