What is validation therapy?
Validation therapy is a method used for managing clients or family members who have Alzheimer's disease or some other serious type of dementia. In helping mentally incompetent people who do not have mental facilities to understand reality, the task of people working with them to help them maintain what common sense remains, even if it means agreeing to their alternative version of reality. The use of validation therapy can help these patients live more comfortable lives. It can also be used to help patients with schizophrenic disorders or other psychotic disorders. This does not work with patients with dementia or other cognitive disorders who have difficulty in distinguishing things such as time, location or their current reality. Arguing with a person with a severe loss of memory reality serves only to upset them.
It used to be common practice for therapists and carers with older peopleEven with dementia to repair them. In other words, if the patient insisted that he was Thursday today, but in fact it was Sunday, the administrator reminded them that it was actually Sunday. Over time, it can repeatedly deny the patient's reality to cause emotional damage, because often no longer has the skills of coping to understand the conditions in its current life. Some people with dementia consider it more comfortable to live in the past than to face their current situation, which is enhanced by memory loss.
employing validation therapy with a patient or family member can help alleviate the anxiety of a person. The administrator would not argue with the client during the day of the week. Instead, he might ask the client what is happening today or what Thursday are usually.
Another aspect of validation therapy is redirecting the affected person. For example, the client can insist on leaving and driving, even if she has no driving license or work. Instead of informing her about this reality, the caregiver can redirect it by offeringHer breakfast first or by involving her to another activity. In this way, the patient's dignity and her interests are redirected in a healthy and more realistic way.
As the name suggests, the administrator verifies the reality of the affected person as well as his concern. Validation therapy is an excellent way to help the patient or family member feel comfortable. It helps maintain dignity and self -esteem and increases the trust that is necessary to grow or maintain a close relationship between the patient and the carer.