Validation therapy was developed by
Naomi Feil for older people with
cognitive impairments and
dementia
Dementia is a syndrome associated with many neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by a general decline in cognitive abilities that affects a person's ability to perform activities of daily living, everyday activities. This typically invo ...
. Feil's own approach classifies individuals with cognitive impairment as having one of four stages in a continuum of dementia. These stages are:
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Mal orientation
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Time confusion
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Repetitive motion
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Vegetative state
The basic principle of the therapy is the concept of
validation or the reciprocated communication of respect which communicates that the other's opinions are acknowledged, respected, heard, and (regardless whether or not the listener actually agrees with the content), they are being treated with genuine
respect
Respect, also called esteem, is a positive feeling or deferential action shown towards someone or something considered important or held in high esteem or regard. It conveys a sense of admiration for good or valuable qualities. It is also th ...
as a legitimate
expression of their feelings, rather than marginalized or dismissed.
Validation therapy is contrasted with ''reality orientation'', in which the caregivers regularly remind people about their current situation (e.g., that they live in a nursing home now). It gave rise to an approach to advanced dementia called ''therapeutic deception'', in which caregivers actively
lie to protect people from re-learning distressing facts that they will be unable to remember from one day to the next (e.g., by saying that a deceased family member is sleeping right now, rather than telling them repeatedly that the loved one died).
There is insufficient scientific evidence to determine whether validation therapy reduces any of the
behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.
Validation therapy improves
job satisfaction
Job satisfaction, employee satisfaction or work satisfaction is a measure of workers' contentment with their job, whether they like the job or individual aspects or facets of jobs, such as nature of work or supervision. Job satisfaction can be me ...
and
reduces stress for professional caregivers.
See also
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Hogeweyk, a dementia facility designed to mimic everyday life
References
Further research
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External links
Official website
Alzheimer's disease
Aging-associated diseases
Psychotherapy by type
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