What Is Validation Therapy and How Can It Help?

Receiving a diagnosis of dementia for a parent or loved one can be an emotional and scary time. While parts of life begin to make sense, others begin to crumble in painful ways. Fortunately, current research suggests there are ways we can help our elderly family members to cope with the challenges of their disease. Validation therapy is a well-documented strategy for helping individuals with dementia retain their dignity and their quality of life. We will discuss what it is, where it came from, who it benefits, and how it helps in both homes and clinical settings. What is Validation Therapy? The concept translates in the medical community as a nursing intervention. It uses therapeutic communication to connect with patients who have dementia. This definition includes the practice of focusing on the individual’s emotions, rather than reality. The idea is that by managing an individual’s emotional attachment to concepts or objects, we can diffuse tough situations. Validation therapy grew as a way of communicating with disoriented people and the elderly. Naomi Feil originally developed it. Feil is a social worker and public speaker who grew up in a nursing home under the care of her parents. Her father was the administrator, and her mother oversaw the Social Service Department. Feil’s early exposure to patients with dementia and other conditions shaped her desire for compassionate care of aging adults. She has authored two books about validation therapy, The Fei...
Source: Shield My Senior - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Tags: Senior Safety Source Type: blogs