Dementia Care Tip: Using Play Names for Unenjoyable Necessities

Using Play Names to Perform "Uncomfortable But Necessary" Caregiving for a Person Living with Dementia

When a person with dementia develops feelings of fear or distaste for a certain experience, using a play name can help you get the thing done, and make it a little less uncomfortable for the person you're caring for.

One quick note is how helpful it can be to use euphemisms for objects and experiences which a person with dementia finds unenjoyable.

To start with a story from my personal recent, albeit a somewhat offensive story, my father who's 74 with dementia and other diseases has developed a healthy fear for Pinocchio.

It all started with a movie on Netflix titled "Pinocchio". My dad was sitting in his chair, and can't use the Netflix remote by himself. So I put on a new movie for him, and left him to it. "See you, Dad".

One of my dad's other diseases is the gluey kind of Parkinson's where he turns into a stone. He couldn't get out of the chair to turn off the TV, nor to get away from the programming on the screen.

For 90-some minutes my dad remained immobile in chair subject to the horror that's manifested in Pinocchio.