Caregiver Training: Repetitive Phone Calls | UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Program

The UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Video series provides viewers with practical tools you can use in a variety of settings to create a safe, comfortable environment both for the person with dementia and the caregiver.

[sweiland]

Plot twist: Jane works at home. She's in the next room.

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Also, another thing to note: private caregivers cost about $20 - $25 per hour in the USA. So, if someone has hired a caregiver for 8-9 hours while they are at work, that's about $900 per week -which is out of reach for most families. If you put the demented person in a memory care place, they do not have the staff to continually redirect or keep your loved one busy. If the person becomes so anxious they start acting out, they are either kicked out, sent to a psychiatric hospital for medication or you are forced to hire a your own private caregiver to "sit with them" even as they are in the memory care facility. This has been my experience.

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These videos are like parenting books and advice. It makes it sound so simple and easy but in reality, it's rarely so simple. Still, the tips are useful for the one out of ten times it works.

[lauriemclean]

I would like to slap the caregiver in the "Common Response" clip. May I never be that disengaged.

[kevinkenny]

My grandma unfortunately has Alzheimer’s. When my grandpa has to run errands, I write in bold letters on a whiteboard where my grandpa is and what time he will be home, which works wonderfully.

[jgrennmusic]

Why are these so wholesome. I love these.😂😂😂😊😊😊

[sushmitakc]

omg what kind of caregiver was that lady at first 🙄

[dancingponies]

My 89 y/o father has about 3 buddies that he calls daily, and always at inappropriate times (always around dinnertime, between 5 - 6 PM), and also often when it is getting late and many older people are already in bed (around 9:30PM, sometimes even at 10PM). I've tried to explain to him that it's dinnertime or bedtime, but he gets very combative and says "I don't care!!" and he insists on calling. I know it gets very weary on these people and I wish they'd tell him to not call at those times. But it is obvious from their tone (and a couple times they even huffed that they were eating or in bed, but dad doesn't get it) that they're not happy to always have him calling at inappropriate times, but they still talk to him, and dad doesn't listen to me. I can't exactly 'forbid' him to use the phone, so it's difficult and frustrating..I'm sure these people wonder why I tell him not to call at those times, but he doesn't listen. I guess just let him continue..? Or any advice..? I have tried to reason with him, and he gets combative...so as they say, pick and choose your battles, I guess..???

[pibcjdx]

This topic about persistent phone calls by a dementia affected person is Educative to caregivers to put to practice to not get upset or disgusted but to exercise patience to respond to the dementia n even try to engage him or her in another activities to calm him.or her.especially when they forget easily.n caregivers should be attentive to the residence and not to be busy on the phone tying and not paying attention to the residence but to ensure proactively responding to the dementia residence request by attracting with useful activities like reading a letter from his or her love ones.and can even do a vedio calls to the love one on behalf of the dementia residence just to calm down the situation

[leahgracefecteau]

Nice job the care giver in the second example seems more nice

[windflower]

One of my grandads first signs was when he would ask the weather multiple times a day.

[maryrua]

I have been a hired caregiver to the lady who had Dementia. She was mostly asleep during the day, active early morning-late night. She didn't recognize her own home, thinking she was in a day centre and waiting for her children to come and pick her up. So, she would be calling them multiple times every 5 minutes or so, and it was impossible to distract her and calm down. She would get worried for her grandchildren, pets, etc whom she needed to collect herself. She would go outside her flat and start looking for home at the neighbours'. The carers there worked shifts 2 weeks one, 2 weeks another. Absolutely no sleep. Photos, games, watching TV together didn't help much. Now try to answer same questions like 50 times in a row after a sleepless night and then blame the carer on video for just saying "What?" or ignoring her client. You don't know what the carers been through. I wouldn't agree to return to that place no matter how much relatives would offer.

[chriskelly]

Not enough info for the actual client. How do I remember NOT to call. I'm alone alot so its up too me.

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The nurse is no better than the one with dementia/Alzheimer, she's inattentive .

[xozesmk]

Why is the caretaker reading a magazine? I would fire the caretaker. She should gently tell her her daughter will be back soon

[k.r.]

ALL COMMENTS/VIDEOS are regarding caring for ONE parent with dementia. I'm the ONLY CAREGIVER (& I AM 100% DISABLED!) who has cared for TWO PARENTS WHO BOTH HAVE DIFFERENT DEMENTIAS for 6+ YEARS! I have NO children, NO siblings, NOTHING, it has just been ME! My parents are in Stage 7 now, but have DIFFERENT symptoms, DIFFERENT health issues, DIFFERENT Sundowners probs, & on & on & on. The 1st 2-3 yrs (again me 100% disabled! And all they have had! Tho' there were others who did NOTHING!), I worked 90+ hours a wk, eating maybe 2 REAL meals/week, driving n2 my driveway & falling asleep immediately til my husband came out to get me, being so exhausted I'd fall asleep in the morning @ the drop of a pin, spilling my coffee all over my lap! There were nights I BARELY made it home-I was SO exhausted! AGAIN, I'M 100% DISABLED! There was a 6 month period I almost, or did, get n2 car wrecks from sheer exhaustion! No one in my husband's LARGE family undestood, nor TRIED to understand(!), nor helped in ANY way! Tho' I (we) have helped ALL of them in EVERY WAY, 10 adult grandkids, 3 50+ "adult children", & great-grandkids. Gave cars, pd 4 private schools, bought furniture for, sent $ to each month while they bought new cars & we (living without ANY, debt, driving used but nice cars pd w/cash, paying our mortgage off early, & ALWAYS, EVERY MONTH GIVING TO TRULY NEEDY PEOPLE!). We did without wants, buying ONLY needs, while all drove new, fanc.y cars, or had Nike shoe collections, yet they all had zero savings, til we finally woke up & said "NO MORE!"). But NO ONE EVER SPEAKS ABOUT A SOLE CHILD, USUALLY A DAUGHTER, CARING FOR TWO ELDERLY PARENTS WHO BOTH HAVE DIFFERENT DEMENTIAS! I've listened to & read all books, looked online, & found NOTHING! NO HELP FOR US CAREGIVERS OF 2!! I am in the last stage, Stage 7 w/my parents, BOTH parents-who both have VERY different problems, symptoms, issues, Sundowners, & on & on! I am 100% disabled & have lost ALL my health, joy, ability to do ANYTHING that brought me joy, since this hit me (like planting flowers, playing the piano, helping with our personal business, cleaning our home & we haven't had a vacation in 12 yrs - as b4 my parents we cared for another elderly family member who was a piece if cake & peacefully died @ home taking a nap, she had ALL her cognition til the end! But I have been utterly ALONE caring for my parents! Both w/different dementias! Today was HORRIFIC! But there is ZERO HELP FOR THOSE OF US DOING THIS! IT WAS 1 OF 10, NOW PROBABLY MORE! YET NO1 OFFERS HELP TO US?! I'm close to suicide as this is BEYOND the WORST of caring for just one! YET NO BOOKS, NO VIDEOS, NO HELP! Why! WHY!? I have chronic pain, Fybromyalgia, C-PTSD, Severe DEPRESSION, ADD, & MORE! Yet STILL, ALWAYS, ALONE, I've done EVERYTHING FOR MY PARENTS! And let my health go! I feel like I've been living in HELL for 6 years STRAIGHT & no one helps or cares! I know the stress causes my chance of dementia to go up (multiply THAT by 2!!), & I swear that I WILL NOT go down the road I've watched BOTH OF MY PARENTS go down!! Why, why, does no1 help those of use caring for 2 w/dementia? Do you not care, or see the DEVASTATION it does to ENTIRE FAMILIES, but ESP
NEEDED!🥺😥

[DeborahJayneReillySmith]

Wow, that caregiver has a cushy job. She should be fired. She can go home and sit on the couch there and not get paid. Lazy!!

[tsveno]

That caregiver needs to be fired. She’s lazy and not compassionate at all.

[bethbarclay]

She looks like she’s reading from a script. Can see her eyes move

[sharonmathers]

Her. Daughter take. Out. From work. Mom had. Dementia. Too.