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Turn “No” into “Yes” in Dementia

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A common frustration in Alzheimer’s is the propensity to say “no” to just about everything. Often, this is triggered by physical brain changes. Understanding the changes can be a tremendous help to everyone involved. See three tips on turning that “no” into a “yes”.


One common frustration in dementia is the propensity of patients to say “NO” to just about everything. Because of the illness, it is often hard for them to understand what is asked of them. So the easiest answer is to just say no.

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Patience and compassion in these situations are the keys to success.

Turning a NO into a YES

  1. Start with a simple question.
  2. Add in some facts from their life story to remind them how-and-why they should do what is asked.
  3. Use physical queues, such as taking the person by the hand, point to what you need, or offering a reward.
  4. Recognize that they may be saying “NO” out of anger. The memory loss and confusion from dementia can cause bouts of anger. Here are some ways to deal better with it:
  • Try taking a break from the conversation.
  • Try to determine what caused the anger to arise. If possible, avoid that pattern in the future.
  • Sometimes, anger is the result of pain or illness your loved one does not have the capacity to describe. So look for signs that they are not feeling well, such as their holding a specific spot or point on their body.
  • Try distraction, such as bringing up a new story or apologizing, even when it is not your fault.


SOURCE: Home Instead Senior Care

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P. Berger

Caring for dementias such as Alzheimer's among family and friends, Peter committed to help preserve the dignity of people affected by Alzheimer's. AlzheimersWeekly.com is the fruit of that commitment.

This site was inspired by my Mom’s autoimmune dementia.

It is a place where we separate out the wheat from the chafe, the important articles & videos from each week’s river of news. Google gets a new post on Alzheimer’s or dementia every 7 minutes. That can overwhelm anyone looking for help. This site filters out, focuses on and offers only the best information. it has helped hundreds of thousands of people since it debuted in 2007. Thanks to our many subscribers for your supportive feedback.

The site is dedicated to all those preserving the dignity of the community of people living with dementia.

Peter Berger, Editor

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This site was inspired by my Mom’s autoimmune dementia.

It is a place where we separate out the wheat from the chafe, the important articles & videos from each week’s river of news. Google gets a new post on Alzheimer’s or dementia every 7 minutes. That can overwhelm anyone looking for help. This site filters out, focuses on and offers only the best information. it has helped hundreds of thousands of people since it debuted in 2007. Thanks to our many subscribers for your supportive feedback.

The site is dedicated to all those preserving the dignity of the community of people living with dementia.

Peter Berger, Editor

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