January is Alzheimer Awareness Month
If you are caregiver to someone with Alzheimer’s, the job of communicating what your loved one needs to feel comfortable may fall to you. The more you can share with your Denturist about how to reduce your loved one’s anxiety, the better they can provide a positive and productive appointment experience.
Here are some ideas for how to improve the appointment experience for your loved one:
Schedule wisely
- Appointments should be scheduled early in the day, to avoid potential delays
- Book appointments at times when the denture clinic is as free as possible from unnecessary noise, people, and clutter
- It may be necessary to break longer, more complex appointments into short, specific appointments, to keep patients attentive and cooperative
Request a calm environment
- If the denture clinic normally plays music or television in the waiting area, ask if it could be turned off prior to your arrival
- The Denturist may be able to seat the patient in the examination room prior to the appointment time, to allow for quiet and rest before the appointment begins
- The dental chair can be adjusted to be as comfortable as possible to the patient
Simplify tasks and routines
- Ask the Denturist to break down tasks into small steps, and to ask the patient to follow only one instruction or idea at a time
- Procedures should be explained to the patient before the Denturist performs them
- Communication with the patient should involve short words and sentences, with lots of time for comprehension
- If the Denturist has instructions or explanations for the patient, they should be prepared to repeat these as needed and to write them down for you
Use non-verbal communication
- Office staff should move slowly and calmly, smile at the patient, and act gently
- When the Denturist needs the patient’s attention, they should stand in the patient’s line of vision, maintain eye contact, and speak in a calm and soothing voice
- Rest periods should be offered to the patient as needed
***
Good denture and oral health can make eating and digesting food easier for an Alzheimer’s patient, improving their overall quality of life. And as Alzheimer’s progresses, your loved one will depend on you more and more for assistance with dental care. We encourage you to keep connected with a Denturist for assistance, information, and support to help you in your dental caregiving tasks.