Tips to Take Care of Someone With Dementia
Being a caregiver for someone with dementia is a highly challenging but rewarding experience. Caregiving for a person with such a disease is a hectic process both mentally and physically. Dementia refers to a mental disease in which a person experiences memory loss, impaired decision-making, and changes in mood and behavior. Dementia has multiple shapes such as Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and many others.
Moreover, each kind of dementia is different from others due to its unique features. One common thing is the overall decline in the cognitive functions of an individual. Therefore, such people need someone to take care of them daily. If you also have someone around you who has dementia, then worry not we have got your back. You can follow the following tips to help your loved one.
1. Adopt New Methods of Interaction
It is never easy to find your loved one in a situation where they suffer from any sort of physical or mental issue. Therefore, be receptive to their needs and try to be open to new ways of interacting with them. You may find them in a situation where they keep asking about things but then forgetting and asking again and again. Do not get annoyed by such behavior as they are not doing it intentionally. It is not in their control to behave in a normal way. Do not treat them as normal people. Instead, understand their differences. Try to communicate with them by engaging in day-to-day activities.
2. Try to Control their Agitation and Stress
Dementia results in decreasing the mental ability to handle stress and confusion etc. the person with dementia may behave haphazardly in different situations. So try to maintain their normal environment and avoid changes that are not necessary. Do not change their environment too abruptly as it might stress them. They can perform better in their typical normal environment and surroundings. Avoid any argument with them. Try to avoid everyday small issues and invest your energy somewhere else.
3. Ask for Help When Needed
Taking care of a dementia patient is not a simple or easy task. It drains you mentally. So there might be days when you want to give up on those patients. You might need a break to get yourself back on track. So for such a situation in St. Charles County in U.S, it is better to get in touch with
memory care st charles county mo professional services for local dementia patients. With their services around the corner you do not have to worry about the reliability and quality of services. There is no shame in seeking professional assistance in this matter so ask for assistance whenever you feel the need.
4. Handle Dangerous Situations Effectively
The impaired memory blurs the line between right and wrong. So such a person is unable to understand whether a certain condition or thing is safe for them or not. So being a caregiver it is your responsibility to figure out which things are safe for them or not. Be quick to handle the dangerous situations. If there is any dangerous area or thing in the house then try to make the place safe for the patient. Be very careful about them when they are driving a car or are using any kitchen item.
5. Be Proactive
Dementia is an ongoing disease. It gets worse. You can manage the symptoms to some extent with proper care and medication but there is nothing more you can do about it. Therefore, you need to assess your loved one’s condition regularly and fulfill all their needs. When you see some unusual thing become a pattern that is not healthy then reach a solution rapidly. Be quick to act.
