Saying "I'm Sorry"

When a loved one with Alzheimer's Disease is upset, many times telling them, "I'm sorry" goes a long way to calming heir fear, anger, or agitation. "I'm sorry," doesn't have to mean you are taking ownership of the problem, that you are promising to fix the problem, or that you consider it your fault that they're upset. "I'm sorry," means just that - sorry. Emotional truth is essential. No one likes to have their fears or worries dismissed. People with Alzheimer's sometimes have trouble finding words to express meanings in their head, but their feelings are intact. And when feelings are acknowledged (sometimes with "I'm sorry,") the bad feelings are diminished and the good feelings are enhanced.