Improv and Thanksgiving: Communicating with Your Loved One with Memory Loss

Photo Credit: Bagaball - Flickr

[ABSTRACT]

Are you concerned about how your Thanksgiving holiday will unfold if you are to spend it with someone who has dementia? Many families worry how to respond to relatives who confuse them with their parents, or who don’t know where they are. Interestingly, the techniques used by actors working in improvisational theatre may be very helpful to you.

Many people perceive improv as theatre with no rules and no boundaries. In fact, there are strict rules that are key to a successful improv production, and those same rules could help you connect with your family members with dementia.

RULE #1: YES!

The first rule of improv is to respond to any statement made by the other actor with “Yes!” The “yes” affirms that you have heard the person, and validates the appropriateness of that person’s response. For people living with dementia who often want to be in a different time or place, they frequently hear “no” to their requests. By starting your response with “yes!”, you signal support, validation and hope. And that type of response adheres to a key concept in dementia caregiving: “Don’t argue with the patient.”

For the full list of rules of improv that will help in the communication with your loved one with memory loss visit http://whiteoakcottages.com/improv-for-thanksgiving/

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, from all of us at White Oak Cottages at Fox Hill Village!