Dementia is a scary diagnosis for a senior to receive, and family caregivers may feel adrift, not knowing how to help their beloved family member move forward. Learning as much as possible about dementia and putting plans in place to help seniors as the condition progresses are two of the most important things to do. Alzheimer’s home care services can help families learn what to do and get the support they need.
Understanding Dementia
Dementia involves changes in the brain that affect mental ability. These changes may be subtle at first, but gradually worsen until seniors experience a significant impact on their daily lives.
The cognitive changes that seniors experience affect their memory, their ability to think and solve problems, and their ability to socialize with others. There are multiple types of dementia, but they do share some characteristics, and none are curable at this time.
Signs of Dementia
Even with the different varieties of dementia, there are some similarities in the symptoms. Seniors may notice that their behavior or personality is changing. They may become more irritable, agitated, or paranoid. They may also be a lot more forgetful than in the past, experiencing memory loss more and more often.
Eventually, people with dementia have trouble communicating, become confused about time and people, and may get lost in familiar locations, requiring the need for consistent Alzheimer’s home care.
Get Professional Help
One of the best things to do right after a dementia diagnosis is to find professional help, even if patients are still in the earliest stages of dementia. That’s because having help now allows family caregivers and seniors to adjust to this new situation and learn what to do to cope.
Alzheimer’s home care providers can help seniors understand what to expect, which allows seniors to make decisions now about what they want their care plans to look like later, when they may not be able to offer their opinions and preferences.
Keep Life Simple with Routines
Simplifying life and developing solid routines is incredibly helpful for people with dementia. Slowing down and letting dementia patients process information helps them to be less confused. Simple communication with short sentences also helps.
Routines help dementia patients know what to expect so that they are less anxious and confused. Alzheimer’s home care providers can help establish these routines.
Avoid Distractions
Distractions and excess noise can be confusing and upsetting for dementia patients. Reducing distractions as much as possible allows them to focus on what is happening in the present moment. This is especially helpful during meals and conversations.
Be Patient and Show Empathy
It’s so important for family members to show empathy to people with dementia and to validate their feelings. Dismissing or correcting people with dementia doesn’t help them; it usually only frustrates them. Their reality has changed, and that can be difficult for family members to understand.
Alzheimer’s home care providers can model validation for family members, helping them to see the effect it can have.
Seniors with dementia may want to spend as much of the time they have left at home as possible, and Alzheimer’s home care providers can help them achieve that goal. These professional caregivers offer hands-on support as well as invaluable knowledge and experience that shorten the learning curve for families.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Alzheimer’s Home Care in Chandler, AZ, please contact the caring staff at Legacy Home Care today. Call (480) 777-0070
Legacy Home Care is a top provider of home care services in Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Sun Lakes, Chandler, Gilbert, Apache Junction, Queen Creek, Phoenix, and surrounding areas.
Legacy Home Care has been serving the valley since 2007. We are family owned and operated with over 75 caregivers. We offer a customized care plan that includes services such as: Hourly Senior Home Care, 24-Hour Home Care, Dementia Care, Personal Care and Companion Care. Also ask us about our Veterans' Home Care program.
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