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Understanding the Key Benefits of Validation Therapy

June 4, 2020 0 Comment Category: Foothill Heights

Validation therapy refers to a specialized type of rehabilitative care, which involves connecting with dementia patients, listening to them, and providing dignified care. It focuses on making seniors feel respected and acknowledged, which works to ease their grievances.

It is seen that seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia often exhibit irrational behavior, which can make it difficult for family members to manage their daily needs. Validation therapy is designed to communicate with such senior patients in a specific way that will address the emotion behind their actions or conversation instead of focusing on the substance. This helps to provide the right level of care they need by entering their sense of reality.

Validation therapy in a skilled nursing home can help seniors with dementia and memory problems in many ways. It works to calm their agitation and frustration over little things and makes them feel understood. Below are some of the main benefits of validation therapy.

It Helps to Prevent Withdrawal

When seniors feel that they are being dismissed, they are more likely to withdraw. This can further worsen the symptoms of their health condition and lead to frustration, pacing, and agitation. Yet with validation therapy, seniors will feel more comfortable to open up and cooperate with the caregiver for managing their day-to-day needs. This will have a significant impact on how their health condition progresses.

It Helps to Make Seniors Feel Valued

Seniors often feel devalued and like a burden on their loved ones when they cannot drive themselves and take care of their daily routine actively. This can take a toll on their mental health and deteriorate the condition. Validation therapy, on the other hand, will make sure that seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or any other serious memory problem feel valued and honored.

It Helps to Improve Their Condition

No one can avoid the health issues that are related to aging. However, with but validation therapy, it is seen that seniors live a healthier life, and even the progression of the existing conditions is also slowed down at times. As senior patients are treated as residents in the skilled nursing home, it helps to boost their mental and physical health greatly. This in turn eases their struggle against dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Note that not all medical professionals and skilled nursing homes embrace validation therapy. Therefore, you will need to do a good amount of research to find a skilled nursing home that can provide validation therapy for your senior parent or grandparent.