What should you do if someone withAlzheimer’s diseaseoranother dementiatalks about committingsuicide?
How should you react?
What questions should you ask?
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What action should you take?
Responding to Suicidal Thoughts
Assess the Risk:Your first concern is for the present situation.
Does this person live alone or is he a resident in a nursing home?
Does he have a history of harming himself or others?
Has his dementia caused him to developpoor judgment?
These questions and others can help you evaluate how high of a risk he has for self-harm.
Don’t assume they are aware.
Medications and treatment plans can be adjusted there.
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