As a dedicated caregiver, you might be wondering how to ensure proper care for someone experiencing Alzheimer’s disease or any other type of dementia.
These specific care requirements are frequently distinct from those provided to older adults in conventional assisted living communities. Caregivers often consider memory care to be the ideal option for older adults. Seasons Retirement offers memory care as one of its options for residents.
Administering the right kind of care for people with dementia can be a demanding task. It can be especially challenging if you are looking after a loved one who fails to recognize the people close to them.
Have a look at these guidelines that will help you out significantly.
What Is Memory Care?
Memory care can fulfill the specific needs of older people experiencing memory issues. These locations are also referred to as SCUs (special care units). Typically, these units are developed within retirement homes, and the residents receive care round-the-clock.
Often, memory care and assisted living overlap to a certain extent. Memory care is somewhat similar to assisted living, as the individuals need assistance to perform their daily tasks. However, caregivers in special care units need professional training, as they often handle residents experiencing progressive cognitive impairment.
Besides, established memory care communities come with better security, which is important for people experiencing dementia.
Memory care encompasses all the basic forms of help available with assisted living. This includes mobility, hygiene, dressing, and daily living. Further, its specific programs focus on caring for older adults experiencing cognitive impairment.
What Makes It Challenging To Treat People With Dementia?
Changes in memory and personality in older people can lead to challenges in delivering dementia care. Therefore, you need to understand how these older adults are likely to behave. Some of the common symptoms of dementia include repetitive speech and action, agitation, insomnia, wandering, incontinence, and problems with the appetite.
Other signs include:
- Poor judgment
- Confusion
- Losing the way in familiar places
- Manipulation
- Skipping events or being late
- Avoiding activities they usually cherish
Taking Care Of People With Dementia: Guidelines To Follow
1. Establish Proper Communication
After all, you need to continue delivering support to the individual. Proper communication is needed to ensure seamless daily interaction for administering food, medicine, and other requirements. Therefore, caregivers need to understand the best communication techniques. This would strengthen the bond with the person significantly, nurturing better care.
2. Maintain A Proper Routine
People experiencing dementia often feel anxious and agitated when they face new environments and circumstances. Therefore, when you take care of older people suffering from dementia, try not to surprise them.
Also, prepare a schedule and follow it while performing the essential activities throughout the day.
3. Create A Soothing Environment
Changes in the living ambiance might lead to agitation. This, in turn, may cause stress and make the person feel disoriented. Try to mitigate clutter and loud noises around as much as possible. Do not drag heavy furniture, and place some familiar objects close to the person. This calm environment would help people experiencing dementia significantly.
4. Make Sure To Keep Active
Caregivers need to ensure that those living with dementia perform regular physical activity. This does help with restlessness to a great extent while preventing aggressive behavior and wandering.
Besides, staying active will enable the individual to get proper sleep at night. Therefore, engage the person in activities such as dancing, regular walking, or chair exercises.
5. Proper Diet Monitoring
People with dementia should control their diet, as per their respective doctors’ recommendations. Therefore, try to avoid sugar or caffeine when you prepare your meals. Otherwise, they might experience sleep disruptions and eventually face related difficulties.
Moreover, consuming alcohol might lead to increased confusion. The intake should be avoided altogether, but initially, you might try and limit it.
6. Try To Increase Connection
To enhance the bond with the person with dementia, caregivers need to foster a better connection. Converse with them about the past so that they can recall things. Many people experiencing dementia are capable of recalling things that took place decades ago.
Alternatively, you can make them recall the conversation you had just some time ago. This will nurture a stronger bond.
7. Ensure A Safe Environment
As dementia in older adults progresses, you would become concerned about their security and safety. Particularly when it comes to wandering due to dementia.
In most special care units, caregivers use GPS to track the person with dementia. This helps them prevent them from landing up in dangerous conditions. You would also have mental peace, as you know the exact location of the person.
What Are The Care Options For Older Adults With Dementia?
Caregivers need to stay abreast with the latest technologies and trends to deliver optimal care to people with dementia. As the disease progresses, the needs and symptoms will keep changing.
Under these circumstances, it would be wise to get them treated at an assisted living center. Look out for a reputed retirement home to help them out under these adverse conditions.
Endnote
Now that you know how to enhance care for people with dementia, you can ensure proper support for older adults. Established assisted living centers would be ideal for people experiencing dementia, so you need to plan the accommodation accordingly.
