“I want to go home” – these five words echo through memory care communities daily, carrying meaning far deeper than a simple desire to return to a physical place.
When your loved one with dementia expresses this wish, they’re actually communicating essential emotional needs – security, comfort and familiarity – rather than literally asking to relocate.
This common phrase emerges at every stage of dementia as the condition affects the brain areas controlling memory and orientation. Understanding these complex emotions becomes vital while you search for a dementia care community in Eau Claire, WI. Heritage Court Eau Claire recognizes that this longing for “home” typically represents your loved one’s need for emotional security and connection to cherished memories, often from their early life.
The Meaning of ‘Home’ for Dementia Patients
When ‘home’ isn’t about a physical place
This yearning from someone with dementia reaches far beyond wanting to return to a particular house or apartment.
“Home” symbolizes feelings, memories or emotional states rather than just physical locations. The meaning transforms into something abstract, representing comfort, security and familiarity that goes beyond walls and addresses.
Home serves as a sanctuary that shields us from the confusion and vulnerability dementia creates. Research studying lived space in people with dementia has uncovered four key categories describing their experience: belonging, meaningfulness and autonomy. The idea of home touches all these essential aspects of psychological well-being.
Studies also show that feeling at home connects closely with a person’s sense of identity and continuity. As dementia advances, your loved one experiences a shrinking of their lived space, making familiar surroundings even more crucial for emotional stability.
How memory loss affects the perception of surroundings
The brain changes associated with dementia dramatically alter how your loved one perceives and interacts with their environment. The hippocampus, which manages our ability to navigate spaces and form memories, often suffers early damage from Alzheimer’s disease and similar conditions.
Memory loss affects environmental perception in several important ways:
Reduced recognition of familiar spaces – Rooms where they live may not register as “home” due to impaired place memory
Time-shifting – Your loved one might believe they’re living in an earlier life period, making current surroundings feel wrong
Perceptual changes – Dementia alters how the brain processes visual information, creating difficulties interpreting reflections, patterns or contrasting colors
Sensory overwhelm – Factors like lighting, noise or visual clutter become disorienting and fuel anxiety
Living with dementia has been described as “living in a space where the walls keep closing in.” This powerful image helps illustrate how your loved one’s world gradually shrinks and becomes less navigable as their condition advances.
Understanding these perceptual changes empowers you to create more supportive environments and respond with genuine empathy when your loved one longs for “home.”
The Emotional Needs Behind ‘I Want to Go Home’
Seeking comfort when feeling overwhelmed
Sensory overload – Noisy, busy settings with excessive stimulation trigger anxiety and a natural retreat toward what feels safe
Fatigue – As cognitive abilities decline, even ordinary daily activities drain mental energy quickly
Physical discomfort – Pain or illness that they cannot clearly express often manifests as wanting to escape their current situation
Changes in routine or unfamiliar surroundings intensify these overwhelming feelings. Your loved one gradually loses their ability to manage stress as dementia progresses, turning previously manageable situations into increasingly threatening experiences.
Responding to feelings of insecurity
Insecurity sits at the heart of many “I want to go home” statements. This phrase often surfaces as a response to:
Growing uncertainty about the surroundings
Diminishing confidence in navigating daily life
Feelings of vulnerability without familiar reference points
Effective Communication Strategies That Provide Comfort
Connecting meaningfully with your loved one experiencing dementia takes more than just patience—it requires special approaches that honor their emotions while building genuine connections. The right communication techniques transform difficult moments into opportunities for comfort and understanding.
Validation techniques that work
The heart of this approach is beautifully simple: validate feelings, not facts. When your loved one says they want to go home, saying “You must really miss your home” acknowledges their emotions instead of arguing about where they currently live.
Try these effective validation techniques:
Centering yourself – Pause for a deep breath and clear your mind before responding
Matching emotions – Reflect on their emotional tone and expressions to create a connection
Asking open questions – “What do you miss most about home?” or “What makes you sad right now?”
Rephrasing feelings – “It sounds like you’re feeling lonely” shows you understand their emotional experience
Moments of Genuine Connection
Your approach during these moments can transform difficult situations into opportunities for emotional connection. Through gentle validation, reminiscence activities or creating comfortable surroundings, you hold the power to help your loved one feel secure and truly understood in their changing reality.
Professional support makes this journey less overwhelming. Contact us at (786) 496-0142 to schedule a tour of Heritage Court Eau Claire and discover how our personalized dementia care services in Eau Claire, WI, can benefit your loved one. While you cannot stop dementia’s progression, you can create moments of genuine connection that bring real joy and peace to your loved one’s daily life.
FAQs
Q1. Why do dementia patients often express a desire to “go home”?
This phrase typically represents a deeper emotional need for security, comfort and familiarity rather than a literal wish to return to a physical location. It often stems from feelings of confusion, anxiety or a desire to return to a time when they felt more in control of their lives.
Q2. How can caregivers respond effectively when a dementia patient says they want to go home?
Caregivers should use validation techniques, acknowledging the person’s emotions without arguing about facts. For example, saying, “You must really miss your home,” can be more comforting than trying to remind them of their current living situation. Creating moments of connection through reminiscence activities can also help provide comfort.
Q3. How does dementia affect a person’s perception of their surroundings?
Dementia can significantly impact how individuals perceive and interact with their environment. It can reduce the recognition of familiar spaces, cause time-shifting (believing they’re in an earlier period of life) and affect sensory processing. These changes can make even familiar surroundings feel foreign and confusing.
