Over nine million Americans currently live with dementia, a figure that’s projected to rise sharply over the next decade. More often seen in those aged 65+, dementia is a real game-changer for every family that it touches.
If an aging loved one in your life has dementia, you’re all too familiar with the behavioral changes that it causes. As an informal caregiver, providing your loved one with the care they need starts with learning more about those behaviors and how to bridge the “dementia gap.”
Understanding Dementia
Dementia describes a group of symptoms that affect memory, social skills, and cognitive abilities in ways that interfere with a person’s daily activities. Dementia isn’t one specific disease per se, but it can be caused by several different diseases. For example, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of progressive dementia in aging adults. And even though memory loss is typically caused by dementia, memory loss itself may have different causes.
Dementia Behaviors
Although they vary by patient, dementia behaviors may include:
Psychological behaviors
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Inappropriate behavior
- Personality changes
- Paranoia
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
Cognitive behaviors
- Memory loss
- Trouble communicating or finding the right words
- Getting lost frequently in familiar places
- Difficulty reasoning, problem-solving, or handling complex tasks
- Acting confused and disoriented
- Trouble planning and organizing
- Motor function and coordination difficulties
Dementia can also cause a phenomenon known as “wandering.” Patients who wander off typically do so because of hunger, pain, hallucinations, confusion, or a perceived urgency to use the toilet.
Caring for Someone with Dementia
As a caregiver for someone with dementia, here’s how to stay connected with them while providing the care they need:
“Brain-healthy” foods
Many nutrient-rich foods have been shown to prevent or slow the progression of dementia, while others may accelerate memory loss and cognitive function decline. Share “brain-healthy” foods with your loved one like berries, nuts, fish, green leafy vegetables, and whole grains. Limit their daily intake of butter, cheese, fast foods, and alcohol. Giving them memory supplements like Omega-3 fatty acids and Panax ginseng may also help boost brain function, but be sure to check with their doctor first.
Regular exercise
Getting plenty of exercise is beneficial for one’s mind and body at any age, and notably for an older adult with dementia. Stay fit as a team by doing low-impact workouts like walking, swimming, yoga, Pilates, or water aerobics that strengthen muscles, improve balance and coordination, and increase flexibility. Working out together for at least 20 minutes 3 to 5 days per week will also help both of you get the healthy sleep that your bodies need.
Mind stimulation
Doing puzzles, playing board games, and going through old photo albums together are all good “brain-teasing” exercises for someone with dementia. Other ways to stimulate your loved one’s mind is by involving them in family activities like setting the dinner table or putting up seasonal decorations.
Communication skills
People with dementia oftentimes struggle with finding the right words, processing large amounts of information at once, and language comprehension. To keep the lines of communication open, concentrate on skills like attentive listening, eye contact, non-verbal cues, and slowing down your speech patterns.
If your senior is being forgetful or acting confused or agitated, don’t take it personally. Instead, remember to practice patience, perseverance, and empathy as you try new ways to bridge the communication gap!
Ask for help
As your loved one’s disease progresses it will take more time and energy to care for them. Prevent caregiver fatigue by enlisting the support of trained professionals who can provide the level of care that’s needed, for example:
- Physical, speech, or occupational therapists
- Loved ones that work in the healthcare field
- Meal delivery and paratransit services
- A professional in-home caregiver who’s trained to care for dementia patients
Compassionate In-Home Dementia Caregivers You Can Trust
Taking care of a loved one with dementia isn’t easy when you can’t always be there. When you need some professional assistance, contact Assisting Hands Home Care. While proudly serving seniors and families in communities Northwest of Boston, Assisting Hands provides professional in-home health services that allow our clients to remain safely and comfortably in their own homes.
From a few hours a day to around the clock, our client-centered services include respite care, personal care, hospice care, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, Parkinson’s support, and Veteran’s support. At Assisting Hands, we deliver quality home care you can trust! To learn more about our dependable caregivers now, or to schedule a consultation for a senior in our service area, please visit us online.
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