John Ramsay was a teenager when his dad got diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, helping to care for him throughout his younger years until his father’s tragic death. Having experienced the first-hand struggles of looking after and loving someone with Alzheimer’s and Dementia, the corporate lawyer opted to leave his city life behind and put his experience to use in Social-Ability.
Following Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, John recalled some simple tricks he learned throughout his dad’s illness that always brought a smile to his face in the hopes of helping others facing this tremendous task. He highlighted that unlike normal conversation, loved ones should focus on emotions rather than actual words.
He explained: “Think less about the actual conversation and more about the emotions that the engagement is sparking in that person. If talking about golf is making your loved one happy, then be prepared to have the same conversation about golf a few times. Or if you’ve just taken them out for an ice cream and then half an hour later they ask you to take them for an ice cream just go along with it.”
John whimsically recalled his fridge often having up to 10 lettuce in it because his dad found joy in the simple gathering tasks of walking to the nearest Sainsbury’s, buying something and returning home with it. He continued: “The happiness and positive emotions they are feeling are more important than an action that might not make sense to you.”
He encouraged carers to stop trying to ensure their patients are always correct by pointing out or fixing their mistakes, as he warned: “This will only evoke negative emotions and feelings inside them. It’s essential to make sure happiness prevails.”
When his dad wasn’t heading off to Sainsbury’s, John managed to squeeze in some precious memories with him which falls into his second piece of advice particularly for those who have a loved one in a carehome. He shared: “Go prepared. Take photos of friends, family members and holidays with you that you can show to your loved one, or music that they used to love. I used to take a Buddy Holiday CD with me when I visited my dad and the three episodes of F.R.I.E.N.D.S that he always loved.”
Involving the care home in your activity plans can also be a great help, particularly if they have interactive things you could do with your loved one. This is also where John’s new line of work comes in as the managing director of Social-Ability created the Happiness Programme, an interactive light projector game specifically designed to reconnect Alzheimer and dementia patients with their family through fun and laughs.