People withAlzheimer’s diseaseor other types of dementia will often say they want to “go home.” Family members and caregiving staff innursing homesandassisted living facilitieshear this question often. It can be hard to know the best way to answer it.
This article offers some suggestions for how to respond when a person with Alzheimer’s disease says they want to go home.
delihaya / Getty Images
What “Home” Means
People with Alzheimer’s disease may say they want to go home even when they are already in their homes. This desire to “go home” may be related to feelings of insecurity, anxiety, or depression.
Alzheimer’s disease initially affectsshort-term memory. “Home,” then, could be a reference tolong-term memoriesof times and places where the person felt secure. They could be thinking of a childhood home that no longer exists.
“Home” might also be a longing for something familiar. Memory loss can make people with Alzheimer’s feel like nothing is familiar anymore. For this reason, they may connect “home” with a sense of familiarity and belonging.They may long for the intimacy of family life.
“Home” in this context probably doesn’t mean the place where the person currently lives, or lived prior to moving to a care facility. Instead, it may mean a place in the past where they felt secure and happy.
This is likely what your loved one is expressing. “Home” may be a desire to reconnect with childhood. For many people, that is the time of life that provided the most security, intimacy, and comfort.
RecapMemory loss can make Alzheimer’s patients feel like nothing is familiar anymore. This may be why they express a desire to “go home.” Home in this context could just mean they want to be somewhere familiar and comforting.
Recap
Memory loss can make Alzheimer’s patients feel like nothing is familiar anymore. This may be why they express a desire to “go home.” Home in this context could just mean they want to be somewhere familiar and comforting.
If They Are Home
If the person is residing in their home rathe than a nursing home or other care setting and ask to go home, how can you respond? Explain and reassure them that they are at home. This may help them feel secure.
Reminiscing Can Provide Comfort
The next time your loved one talks about going “home,” remember that it may be a reference to the past. Try to respond with some questions of your own. For example, you can ask about your loved one’s childhood memories, or you can look at old family photographs together.Reminiscing about childhoodand the home where the person grew up can be comforting.
Try echoing your loved one’s feelings. For example, you could say, “You must wish you could be at home right now.” This can help the person feel like you understand what they’re feeling. That can be very comforting.
Summary
Alzheimer’s patients often say they want to “go home,” even if they are already at home. This may be an expression of their feelings of insecurity. They may long for a more comforting time, such as their childhood.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nakatsuka M, Meguro K, Tsuboi H, Nakamura K, Akanuma K, Yamaguchi S.Content of delusional thoughts in Alzheimer’s disease and assessment of content-specific brain dysfunctions with BEHAVE-AD-FW and SPECT.Int Psychogeriatr. 2013;25(6):939-48. doi:10.1017/S1041610213000094Validation Training Institute.What is validation?.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nakatsuka M, Meguro K, Tsuboi H, Nakamura K, Akanuma K, Yamaguchi S.Content of delusional thoughts in Alzheimer’s disease and assessment of content-specific brain dysfunctions with BEHAVE-AD-FW and SPECT.Int Psychogeriatr. 2013;25(6):939-48. doi:10.1017/S1041610213000094Validation Training Institute.What is validation?.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Nakatsuka M, Meguro K, Tsuboi H, Nakamura K, Akanuma K, Yamaguchi S.Content of delusional thoughts in Alzheimer’s disease and assessment of content-specific brain dysfunctions with BEHAVE-AD-FW and SPECT.Int Psychogeriatr. 2013;25(6):939-48. doi:10.1017/S1041610213000094Validation Training Institute.What is validation?.
Nakatsuka M, Meguro K, Tsuboi H, Nakamura K, Akanuma K, Yamaguchi S.Content of delusional thoughts in Alzheimer’s disease and assessment of content-specific brain dysfunctions with BEHAVE-AD-FW and SPECT.Int Psychogeriatr. 2013;25(6):939-48. doi:10.1017/S1041610213000094
Validation Training Institute.What is validation?.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
