Wednesday, 20 November 2019

When your loved one with Alzheimer’s "wants to go home"   

Alzheimer’s is accompanied with memory loss and confusion, so one of the most common phrases that you will often hear your loved one utter is ‘I want to go home’. This is true even if you have decided to hire a live-in caregiver and they are being cared for in their own home. So, what could your loved one possibly mean by this painful statement and what can you do to help? We provide some insight below.

What does it mean?

Relatives are often left feeling muddled and frustrated when their loved one, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s, says that they want to go home despite already being at home. There have been many theories surrounding what this statement could mean.

Some experts believe that they may be referring to a home from the past, perhaps one from their childhood or their days of being a young adult. However, many other experts claim that it is often not a ‘physical home’ that the person is referring to and searching for, but rather a feeling of safety and comfort that they may be presently lacking.

This is not to say that they are not comfortable with their live-in caregiver. Instead, it could be the anxiety and confusion that comes hand in hand with the condition that could be leaving them feeling vulnerable and uneasy.

What can you do?

The reality is that there isn’t much that you can do. Your loved one’s feelings are not a result of anything that you are doing or not doing, or where he or she actually lives. They can all be attributed to Alzheimer’s itself and is just a part of living with the condition.

Having said that, you can always do your best to reassure them and spend as much time with them as possible. Often, having those whom they love nearby, even if they have lost the ability to recognise or communicate with you, can help to alleviate feelings of anxiety.

Distraction is also always a good route. When your loved one is asking to go home, suggest watching a movie together that they love or listening to music. This is usually enough to redirect the mind and provide comfort, even if only temporarily.  

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