Suffering from dementia, it is a disease that can progress very quickly and unfortunately there is no cure at this time. There are things that we can do to help someone slow the decline of dementia. I’m Chris Mihm and today we’re going to talk about how to thrive living with dementia.
Number one, creating a supportive environment.
When someone has dementia, keeping them in a familiar environment is extremely important. This familiar environment can be a home that they’ve lived in for many years or maybe at an assisted living or memory care unit. At a facility, there are so many things that are going on with someone that experiences dementia, but being able to keep that familiar surroundings. So that that doesn’t have to overwhelm their mind at the same time is very important. Another aspect of creating a supportive environment is making sure that the home is safe for your loved one to live in.
Number two, engagement.
So it’s very important that someone who is suffering from dementia is engaged on a daily basis. Some of the activities that our caregivers will do with someone with dementia, they can read the newspaper together. A lot of our clients are religious and love to read the Bible. We have puzzles, we have coloring books. One of the more important activities of engagement with someone with dementia is looking at photo albums. It’s so rewarding to see them smile looking back at memories that they’ve had. And the photo albums that helped to jar those memories. One thing to keep in mind is we like to structure some of those activities of engagement around what your loved one loved to do. So for example, we had a client that was a master piano player, and although he might not remember names. He could sit down at a piano and, and play songs that he learned many years ago.
Number three, physical health.
When someone is suffering from dementia, it’s very important that their physical health stays strong so that their mental decline does not erode even faster. Some of the tips for promoting a healthy lifestyle are making sure that the loved one is getting their meals on time, their medications at the correct times, and also things such as exercise, where a caregiver may be able to help take somebody out on a walk, and the cognitive stimulation, some of which were previously noted.
Number four, routine.
Having a consistent sleep routine helps with sundowning. Sundowning is a condition where somebody confuses day with night. So in some cases, somebody will wake up in the early evening and think it’s time to wake up for the morning. So making sure that bedtimes are consistent is extremely important. Another important routine is something as simple as hygiene. Making sure that somebody’s receiving a consistent bath. And something as small as making sure that they’re brushing their teeth in the morning and night.
Number five, get support.
So within the community, there’s generally an Alzheimer’s support group that can help family members who have a loved one that’s suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia. One of the challenges for family members that are providing care for someone with dementia is the risk of burnout. To help prevent caregiver burnout, you can look at a home care agency such as Freedom Home Care that can help provide respite for your family.
