Nurturing Seasons

Caring for a loved one with dementia

Taking care of a loved one that has dementia can be challenging, time-consuming and very demanding. That’s why it can be a good idea to hire a professional caregiver which can offer all the assistance and support. However, until you do so, you will have to do that on your own. Which makes you wonder, how can you take care of a person that has dementia? Here are some tips and tricks.

Expect behavioral and mood changes

People with dementia, especially seniors, are known to show behavioral and mood changes. You need to expect these, however be on the lookout for drastic changes. These drastic changes can be a sign of infection, illness or pain.

Establish a routine

We recommend establishing a routine for things like eating, dressing and bathing. Doing that is extremely helpful, since it gets the loved one accustomed to a schedule and habit. You can also plan activities that your loved one enjoys. This helps make the caregiving process easier, not to mention your loved one will feel better as well.

Serve meals in a consistent place

Make sure that you serve meals in a familiar place. This will offer a sense of familiarity and lower the appearance of any dementia signs too. You should always ensure that your loved one has plenty of time to eat as well.

Focus on meaningful interactions and tasks

The reason behind this is it helps improve the sleep and mood of your loved one. It will also lower the  appearance of any sudden behavioral changes too. That’s why meaningful activities like baking, gardening, arts and crafts, listening to a podcast or watching a TV show can be very helpful and convenient. Just try to take that into consideration and benefits can be incredible if you do it right.

Take good care of yourself

When you are caregiving for a loved one, it’s very easy to deal with anxiety, stress and nervousness. Which is why social interaction, taking a walk, muscle relaxation techniques and guided meditation can be extremely helpful. Just make the most out of it and always try to relax and unwind.

Create a proper medical care plan

It’s always a good idea to have a medical plan ready to go for your loved one. Some routine visits to the doctor and checkups can help more than you might expect. It will also alleviate the pressure in your case, since you don’t have to worry all the time about potential health issues.

Conclusion

We recommend taking your time when you are caring for someone with dementia. There are always challenges that can arise when it comes to caregiving for a person you love. These tips and tricks will make it easier to deal with the situation. Plus, you will find it a lot simpler not only to eliminate concerns and worries, but also focus more on your wellbeing in the long run. Even if caregiving for someone that has dementia is difficult, using these ideas can make things easier, so give them a try today!