Elderly Care - Five Tips in Caring For A Loved One With Dementia By Naomi J Lolley | Submitted On July 21, 2011 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Share this article on Facebook Share this article on Twitter 1 Share this article on Google+ Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon Share this article on Delicious Share this article on Digg Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest Expert Author Naomi J Lolley Age progression can be a trying time, especially when additional elderly care is necessary due to the physical and mental changes happening. Loss of strength, loss of function, and loss of memory are some common occurrences that the "sandwich generation" notices in their elderly …show more content…
Read everything you can on the subject and stay abreast of any developing findings in medical journals. Sometimes, an elderly person with dementia may get combative, and you need to be ready in advance in order to handle the situation properly. Other times, they may withdraw, and not respond to any conversation or activity. Being prepared in advance for these types of situations will give you greater confidence in providing elderly care for your loved one. Elderly Care Tip #4 - Plan Regular Responses and Redirection A common problem for loved ones with dementia is the lack of short-term memory. Perhaps you heard your aging mother ask what she ate for breakfast more than five times already that morning, but it is important to answer the question instead of brushing it off or giving a belittling answer. Politely answer the question the way you did the other three or four times that it was asked. While she is thinking over the response, find a different question to ask her, or a small task to involve her in. This distraction helps her get focused on something else, while it also prevents you from getting frustrated with her for repeating herself. Elderly Care Tip #5 - Resist the Urge to …show more content…
No amount of urging will help your loved one remember something they do not. In fact, using phrases such as, "Oh, you remember, we did this..." may even cause more frustration than not remembering the activity, because now they are being coached that they should have remembered the
At first, someone with dementia may appear to be easily irritated or moody. More challenging behaviour may develop in some people over time. For example, in some cases, a person with dementia may become quite
Early diagnosis helps a person and their family prepare, they may want to learn about what they about to face increase awareness of dementia, its implications and Integrated Care Pathway. They would be able to look at benefit and legal implication such any benefits entitlements and power of attorney. The person and their family would
Care givers should use clear questions when speaking to someone with dementia as it may take them a little longer to process what is being asked.
Each of these senior care services requires its own special touch, and in the case of dementia care, there are a variety of tips that make a caregiver's visits more effective. In addition to helping the diagnosed and their families cope with symptoms, here are some ways caregivers can work toward preserving certain skills and functions:
There are many different types of roles and responsibilities that come with being a care worker for somebody with dementia. The care worker has to promote dignity for the service user. Respect them and give them independence, their rights and privacy. Again giving them privacy could just be by closing their toilet door so nobody can see them when on the toilet. Focusing on strengths and the things they have the ability to do. For example when lied in bed if they can’t sit up to help themselves out of bed, rather than saying ‘you know you can’t do that on your own, you don’t need any help’ ask them ‘do you want some help? I’ll help you up, you swing your legs out of bed then you can get up’. By focusing on the things they can do you’ll be helping to promote their independence to do something else. Involving their friends
Dementia is a progressive condition that brings out negative impacts on your elderly loved ones’ lives. However, UC-Cares Home Health Services LLC, your principal provider of home health services in Great Plains Way, Bolingbrook, IL, sees prevalent concerns among family members when they talk with their elders with Dementia. Here are some of the most common communication strategies that most family members overdo when talking with them:
Unpredictable movements and vocalizations frightened and pushed me from my comfort zone, yet cooperating with an interdisciplinary team provided invaluable practical experience and a chance to learn appropriate care for those in vulnerable positions. Accordingly, two individuals made a major difference in my experience. The first was JP Hermano, the volunteer coordinator, who assisted me greatly by providing numerous seminars and training sessions to help me understand and become comfortable with dementia. The second was Alle Choi, the head dietician, and she helped to teach more of the practical and scientific aspects, such as the theory behind good feeding practices and potential warning signs to watch for with diagnosed individuals.
He often remembered to say thank you every time I fed or treated him. However, even after showing him the photos I found in his locker, he said that he could not remember the individuals and he could only assume that they were his relatives. Dementia patients especially whose condition has deteriorated have a difficult time trying to recall important things that occurred in the past (Shea, 2011). Despite his condition, Ishmael appeared to be an intelligent individual who could engage in different conversation topics. The opportunity of providing personalized care to Ishmael provided a whole new experience in my profession as a nurse. I also made a background check on the factors that influence the onset of dementia. Although I had studied this in school, I got an opportunity of doing a thorough analysis than in the
Patients with dementia and Alzheimer 's generally suffer from something called sundowning syndrome. Laurie udesky from caring.com describes this disease as “increased agitation and confusion that can occur anytime but may be more noticeable in the late afternoon or early evening.”(sundown syndrome). When a person is agitated they tend to get combative and forget where they are, what they 're doing there, and who they are. Some residents often cry out for a deceased family member. A personal example that I have witnessed while working in a nursing home is that when residents start to sundown, they talk about how they need to go home because there husband and child are waiting for them at home. How do you handle a situation like that without upsetting the patient and making things escalate quickly? Perhaps lying to them is considered bad but it may keep them calm enough to change to a different topic.
Every person experiences the early stages of Alzheimer’s on various levels. During the early stage of Alzheimer’s, it is common for the patient to need assistance with cues and reminders to help with memory. For those supporting the patient, it is important to determine what can be effective and helpful in assisting the patient as their dementia may progress. Patients may need help with various tasks including:
Dementia often forces family members to admit their loved ones into long-term care facilities. Unfortunately, a variety of issues commonly arises after admission. For instance, family members, especially those who have previously taken care of the resident, are sometimes reluctant to allow changes in the residents routine, medication regimen, diet, etc. This can create conflict because sometimes changes are necessary in order to create a plan of care capable of enhancing the resident’s quality of life.
While caregiving for an older adult may be demanding in general, caring for a loved one with dementia potentially can be even more strenuous due to the nature of the illness. Dementia is “associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person 's ability to perform everyday
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