Creative Couples’ Intervention Significantly Helps People with Alzheimer’s Communicate

Relationships are often strained when one partner is suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The loss of memories is one thing but adding on the stress of guilt felt on both sides adds to those long term problems. This treatment focuses on the relationship of both partners and skills that will help them both function better in the long term. For instance, one common issue is memory loss and guilt. The guilt is often seen by the patient in not remembering the event but also from the partner trying to get the info from them, often berating them adding their own guilt. This treatment focuses on meaningful contact between them to help build those trusts back up and make the relationship stronger. It also helps build the memory and eye contact of the patient. That loss of eye contact is highly problematic and adds to the shame of both parties. This method increases it through this contact giving both partners reason to engage with each other and start building those gaps. While lost memories will always be there, this can help lower that loss and help prolong the patient’s happiness an d cognitive abilities for longer, which in turn effects the other partner’s happiness add satisfaction in the relationship.