People withAlzheimer’s diseaseor other types of dementia will often say they want to “go home.”
Family members and caregiving staff innursing homesandassisted living facilitieshear this question often.
It can be hard to know the best way to answer it.
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This desire to “go home” may be related to feelings of insecurity, anxiety, or depression.
Alzheimer’s disease initially affectsshort-term memory.
They could be thinking of a childhood home that no longer exists.
“Home” might also be a longing for something familiar.
Memory loss can make people with Alzheimer’s feel like nothing is familiar anymore.
Instead, it may mean a place in the past where they felt secure and happy.
This is likely what your loved one is expressing.
“Home” may be a desire to reconnect with childhood.
Recap
Memory loss can make Alzheimer’s patients feel like nothing is familiar anymore.
This may be why they express a desire to “go home.”
Home in this context could just mean they want to be somewhere familiar and comforting.
Explain and reassure them that they are at home.
This may help them feel secure.
venture to respond with some questions of your own.
You might also try usingvalidation therapy.
For example, you could say, “You must wish you could be at home right now.”
This can help the person feel like you understand what they’re feeling.
That can be very comforting.
This may be an expression of their feelings of insecurity.
They may long for a more comforting time, such as their childhood.
2013;25(6):939-48. doi:10.1017/S1041610213000094
Validation Training Institute.What is validation?.
