Caring for Parents with Dementia or Alzheimer’s : At times, it is unfortunate that our parents develop dementia or Alzheimer’s. It’s a memory issue that needs correct care and medical aid. And if you have decided to care for your parent, then it is necessary to manage the daily tasks so that it doesn’t aggravate the ailment. You have to opt-in for practical and useful guidelines to assist a person with this disease and ensure that they live happily as much as possible.
Today, there is an option to choose memory care services to care for your parents. It is an effective way for memory care professionals to help your parent and provide complete round-the-clock assistance. You can also choose hourly aid depending on the need. You can search for the memory care facilities in Iowa and choose accordingly.
Bring down frustration
A person with dementia or Alzheimer’s tends to become agitated when they find that their simple, easy tasks are becoming challenging. If you want to ease and limit the frustration and challenges, you can:
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Plan wisely
Make sure to have a daily routine. There are a few tasks, such as medical appointments and bathing, which is easier to accomplish as they are refreshed and alert. You need to add the necessary flexibility for spontaneity activities and allow the person to be in a good mood.
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Take the required time
You might want to anticipate that the tasks will take slightly longer than the scheduled time. It is a good idea to allow breaks as that will keep the patient refreshed.
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Involvement
You need to allow your parent with Alzheimer’s or dementia to do as many tasks as possible and with the least help. For instance, he or she can set the table when you provide the necessary visual cues. The same might be right for dressing independently. Allow them to get involved in their task, and that will help them to recuperate better. It is also essential that in this process, you provide them with simple, one-step, and straightforward communications and instructions so that they don’t get confused.
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Offer choices
It is essential that you provide some, but not excess, choices daily. For instance, while dressing, provide your parent choice between two or three outfits and not more than that. You might limit the options to two in other aspects of life, such as whether they want to stay indoors or go for a walk and drink a cold or hot beverage. It will help them to decide better and clearly.
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Consider memory boosting supplements
There are a ton of supplements available, both over the counter and prescribed, that can help boost and support your parent’s memory. Consider buying vitamins for alzheimers and making them a part of your parent’s daily routine.
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Restrict the napping time
You need to cut down the prolonged naps during the day. It will disrupt the sleep cycle and will make the patient confused about day and night.
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Bring down distractions
During mealtime, it’s a good habit to bring down distractions. You can switch off the television or the radio and allow the patient to focus on the activity.
These are some of the essential aspects that you or the memory care worker needs to keep in mind. You can also check the local memory care facilities and assess how much you can provide yourself. Flexibility is also another prerequisite.
Flexibility
With time a person who has Alzheimer’s and dementia will become more dependant. If you want to bring down this frustration, you need to stay flexible and manage the routine accordingly, along with the expectations. For instance, if your parent wants that same dress daily, you might think of getting identical outfits. You need to weigh and assess the ways how you can work with the patient. You need to take care of the following:
- Develop a secure environment– Alzheimer’s and dementia impairs problem-solving skills and judgment. And that can make a person more prone to injury. Hence, you must ensure that the environment is safe.
- Avert falls – It is a good idea not to use extension cords and scatter rugs that might lead to falls. Instead, you can install the handrails and grab bars where it is required.
- Implement fire safety guidelines –It is necessary to keep the lighters and matches beyond the reach of your parent. If your parent has a smoking habit, then supervise the same. Ensure that there is a fire extinguisher within your reach always.
- Use locks –You need to install the locks on the cabinets, which comprise alcohol, dangerous tools, medicine, and toxic cleaning substances.
Finally, when you care for a parent who has Alzheimer’s or dementia, you need to concentrate on individualized care. Each person will have varied symptoms, and the ailment will progress at a different pace. Hence, it would help if you customized tips that cater to your family need accordingly. It would be best if you had ample flexibility and patience in addition to self-care. Take the help of friends and family members when needed to help you manage the challenges better.
Related Videos about Caring for Parents with Dementia or Alzheimer’s :
Caregiver Training: Agitation and Anxiety | UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program
Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s Disease
When Your Parent Has Memory Loss
5 Ways to Help a Parent with Dementia Accept Care
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Caring for Parents with Dementia or Alzheimer’s
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