The old-old person who is confused presents a great challenge in caregiving. Caregivers left to their own familiar ways of communicating soon become frustrated and angry with the inability to relate in a meaningful or helpful way. Validation teaches a specific communication process for the old-old person who is disoriented and confused that is based on the behaviors of respect and empathy. Experience with this technique reveals that old-old people can respond in positive ways that thwart a natural progression toward the stage of vegetation.
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Naomi Feil (1996) studied this question.
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