Dementia can be a difficult condition to care for. It’s important to remember that the person you are caring for still has their own personality, even though they may forget things more often now. This blog post will go over 13 tips that caregivers should remember when taking care of someone with dementia.
1. Have an Off day for your loved one
– It’s OK if your loved one has an off day. They may not be able to remember what they did yesterday, but that doesn’t mean their feelings won’t still be hurt by something you said or did. Don’t take it personal if they don’t always understand who you are talking about.
2. Try to understand them at all times
– It’s important to recognize that your loved one might not always communicate what they need or want. They may be confused, or they could just simply forget how to talk about it. Try writing down questions you have for them so you can make sure all of their needs are met at the end of the day.
3. Provide them with healthy diet
– Make sure that your loved one is eating healthy food and getting enough sleep every night. Their diet will help them stay alert throughout the day while their sleeping habits may affect how well they cope with symptoms like confusion or agitation
4. Don’t make them feel uncomfortable
– The person you are caring for may feel embarrassed by their condition, so it’s important not to make them uncomfortable with questions about why they did something or how they felt while doing it. If they lose control and urinate themselves, let them clean up without making it an issue.
5. Monitor their medications
– For medications, make sure you know what dosage they are supposed to take and when (including time of day). They may forget how often or what they need to take them for. Check with your doctor if there is any question about the medication’s name, action, dose, timing or effects on daily life.
6. Help them with their daily routines
– Your loved one should have a daily routine, even though it might be different from their normal schedule before dementia set in. It can help them to know what is going on and when things are happening or going to happen next. Talk with the doctor about any changes that need to be made for this new schedule.
7. Be patient with them!
– Try to be as patient with your loved one as possible. They may need a little extra time to process what you are saying, especially if they have dementia which has progressed into the moderate stages or later. If it’s frustrating for you, think of how much more difficult it might be for them!
8. Take control of all the problems
– Don’t try and solve all of their problems at once. With dementia, it’s all about taking things one step at a time and slowly getting them back on track to where they used to be.
9. Find ways to make them calm in all situations
– Sometimes people with dementia can become agitated or angry for seemingly no reason. This is often the result of feeling confused or frustrated by their lack of ability to express themselves as well as they normally do. Try to remain calm and talk them through whatever is upsetting them, even if it seems like an impossible task!
10. Spend more time with them
– Remember that your loved one still has their same likes and dislikes as before dementia set in. You may want to spend more time with them now than you did before, but make sure not to force them to do anything they don’t want. They may not be able to make a decision about what they would like, but that doesn’t mean you should just pick for them!
11. Give them some independence
– Allow your loved one some independence while still making sure their safety is taken into consideration. If it’s difficult for them to go out by themselves anymore, try making shorter trips to the store or having someone come in once a week for groceries.
12. Let them talk other family members of friends
– If you have trouble communicating with your loved one, try bringing along another family member or friend that they are more likely to respond well to when you need help! It can be difficult on both of you if they don’t recognize either of you half of the time.
13. Visit them more often
– If they are in an aged care facility, try to make more time and visiting them. That way they should be able to connect with you and you will have knowledge on what’s been going on with them. Aged care facilities usually have activities for them, so make sure you get to choose the right facility! You may browse on https://agedcarelocator.com.au/ for the best aged care homes that suits your loved one.