Care Partner Tip: Stop and Go Technique

Stop:

• Whatever your doing can wait
• Will pushing a head make the outcome worse now or later?
• Take focus off the task and make the person the priority

Think:

• Give your full attention
• Why is this happening?
• What are the triggers?
• How is the person with dementia interpreting?
• What has changed?

Observe:

• Recognize cues
• Acknowledge emotional message
• What message am I sending through my words and body language and other non-verbals?
• What are they trying to tell me?

Plan:

• Consider when to re-approach or resume care
• How can you modify your approach?
• Knowing about the person can help you develop approach strategies such as music, humour, control, choice etc.
• What do I need to share?

This is a helpful technique when you see agitation building and you want to help the person living with dementia regain the ability to be calm. Sometimes pushing ahead can make the situation worse, and it can be hard to learn to instead stop see it from their perspective and change your route of care.