Caring for a loved one with dementia is a demanding job. With Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, it becomes increasingly difficult for patients to remember things, care for themselves, think clearly, and communicate. Dementia also causes mood swings and personality changes.
Following are tips for caregivers helping someone with dementia. These strategies are for people in the earlier stages of the disease. As dementia advances, patients become more dependent and may require 24-hour supervision. It’s overwhelming for a spouse or adult child to take on that level of care. At that stage, it is best for the person with dementia to move to a memory care community.
Living with Dementia: 11 Tips for Caregivers
Needing help with daily activities like bathing, grooming, and dressing can be frustrating for people with memory loss. To minimize confusion, the following are tips for caregivers.
- Maintain a routine. Do activities like bathing, dressing, and eating on the same schedule each day.
- Create reminders. Help your loved one write to-do lists and appointments on a calendar.
- Plan enjoyable activities. If there is something your loved one likes to do, plan that activity and do it at the same time each day.
- Encourage independence. Allow the person to do as much as possible when bathing and getting dressed.
- Discuss the good old days. If you’re close to someone with memory loss, you realize they might not remember what happened this morning, but they can tell you stories about high school. So avoid asking short-term memory questions like what they had for breakfast. Ask questions about their distant past instead.
- Get comfortable clothing. Buy clothes that are easy to put on, like pants with elastic waistbands and slip-on shoes.
- Use a shower chair. Get a sturdy shower chair from a drugstore or medical supply store to prevent falls.
Caring for the Caregivers
The demands of supporting others can cause caregivers to neglect themselves. Three-quarters of respondents describe caregiving as stressful, and more than half feel it is overwhelming. Here are some ways to find relief.
- Ask for help. Reach out to local services for caregivers or ask relatives to pitch in.
- Join a support group. Meet other caregivers online or in person.
- Eat well and exercise. These healthy practices will help relieve stress.
- Consider therapy. If you feel anxious or depressed, talk to a mental health professional.
As the disease progresses, you’ll need help from professional caregivers to make sure your loved one receives excellent care and to protect yourself from exhaustion and burnout. Here are signs a person needs memory care:
- Significant changes in behavior
- Extreme emotions like anger or anxiety
- Uneasiness in performing activities like feeding themselves or grooming
- Confused behavior that puts them at risk, such as forgetting the stove is on
- Mobility problems
- Inability to manage their medications
- Wandering outside at all hours of the day or night
- Inability to keep their home safe and clean, including hoarding
Some caregivers feel tremendous guilt about moving a spouse or parent to memory care. But caregiving is not a one-person job; a depressed, exhausted person cannot take good care of someone else.
The solution is to find an excellent memory care community that provides specialized activities for older adults. It’s best for the loved one to move before the illness is too advanced. They will experience less confusion with the move and be able to make friends and enjoy social activities. Here is what to look for in a memory care community:
- Family members are involved in decision-making
- A clean, well-maintained facility
- Healthy, varied meals
- Planned activities, like fitness classes, social events, and arts and crafts
- They provide medical care
- The staff treat residents with dignity and respect
Living with Dementia: 11 Tips for Caregivers
When caring for someone with dementia, maintaining familiar routines helps them feel comfortable. As the illness progresses, adapt your strategies to meet their changing needs, but encourage independence. To protect your physical and mental health, take care of yourself and ask for or hire help. Look into professional care while your loved one can understand the move and enjoy their new social life.
