Psychosocial Care Skills
Communication basics
Psychosocial care is about treating the person, not just the task. Use the resident's preferred name, knock, introduce yourself, explain what you will do, and ask permission before touch. Face the resident, speak at eye level, use plain words, and allow time to answer. Active listening means reflecting feelings ('You sound worried about the move') rather than giving advice or false reassurance.
Dementia and behavior
In dementia, behavior is communication. Look for pain, hunger, toileting, noise, fatigue, or fear before calling a behavior 'bad.' Do not argue with a false belief or try to reorient every time; validate the feeling and redirect to a safe activity. A calm voice, routine, and familiar objects often work better than logic.
Rights and privacy
Residents keep rights: dignity, privacy, confidentiality, choice, refusal, and freedom from abuse and restraints. Close curtains and doors for care, do not discuss a resident in hallways or on social media, and report suspected abuse or neglect immediately to the nurse. Never threaten, shame, or use a device to restrict movement as punishment.
Traps
Questions may show a resident refusing care-honor the refusal, document it, and inform the nurse rather than forcing care. Another trap is correcting a resident's mistaken belief in dementia, or promising secrecy.
Worked rule
A resident with dementia says, 'I need to go home; my children are waiting.' Do not say 'You live here now.' Instead: 'You miss your children. Tell me about them,' then walk with the resident to a photo or activity. Validate, then redirect.