A senior loved one living with dementia will experience several changes, leading to various challenges for you and other caregivers. However, with a good care strategy in place, your loved one can remain comfortable and you can better help them manage dementia. Below are some tips to consider when creating an at-home care plan for a senior loved one living with dementia.
Develop a Team
Caring for a loved one with dementia can lead to feeling overwhelmed and overworked, making time management and teamwork crucial, especially if you have a full-time job and other responsibilities, such as parenting. When organizing a schedule with your family, remember to accommodate your loved one’s specific needs and ensure everyone is satisfied with their roles. For example, if bathing your loved one is something one of your siblings wants to avoid, don’t give them this duty.
It’s also an excellent idea to consider hiring a professional in-home dementia caregiver. With their knowledge and skills, professional caregivers can support your loved one and provide your family with insights to alleviate stress and boost your caregiving knowledge.
Dementia can be challenging for seniors to manage, but they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of the dementia social day program provided by Companioa by Institute on Aging (IOA). Our engaging social day program for individuals with dementia features tailored cognitive activities, group exercises, social engagement, and opportunities for artistic expression in a vibrant, modern setting, and our certified dementia care staff ensures your loved one’s safety in a supportive environment.
Prepare the Home
Dementia can affect judgment skills, behavior, balancing abilities, and more. As a result, safety hazards become increasingly dangerous, which is why including home preparation in your caregiving plan is important. You may need to move your loved one’s bedroom closer to the bathroom, add additional lighting throughout the home, rearrange furniture, and keep the windows and doors locked at all times. Preparing the home allows your loved one to continue moving around independently without putting their physical and mental wellbeing at risk.
Aging in place can present a few challenges for seniors living with dementia. However, they can enjoy a higher quality of life when they join the supportive community at Companioa by IOA’s dementia day program, where individuals with dementia can thrive. With support from our specially trained and certified dementia care staff, seniors with dementia can discover joy, companionship, and a revived sense of connection. Our dedicated staff provides mental and social stimulation, daily group exercises, opportunities for artistic expression, fresh homemade meals, and personalized assistance in a modern, safe environment.
Organize Medications
When your loved one’s memory starts worsening, they may not only misjudge time but also forget where they keep their medications or have difficulty remembering when they last took a dose. If these issues aren’t properly addressed, your loved one could skip taking important medicine or take too much and put their health in danger.
Proper medication organization is something to plan for early on. This may include using prescription boxes that are labeled and have dividers or teaching your loved one how to use medication apps. These strategies ensure everything stays on course while boosting your loved one’s independence.
Assess Clothing & Other Apparel
The clothing items your loved one wears now may be more difficult to wear as dementia worsens. For example, restlessness is more common in older adults with dementia, and if their clothing is too tight or has buckles or zippers, the fidgeting could cause them to play with the pointy objects on the accessories and harm themselves.
Take the time to assess your loved one’s wardrobe and find more comfortable clothes. Consider buying clothes with elastic waistbands, pants without zippers, and shoes without shoestrings, as these are easier for seniors with dementia to manage.
Caring for a loved one with dementia is a challenging task for anyone. The responsibilities can sometimes feel overwhelming, but help is available. As a caregiver for a family member living with dementia, you bear a significant responsibility. Caring for someone with dementia is both physically and emotionally demanding, and neglecting your own wellbeing may lead to burnout and increased stress. Fortunately, you don’t have to shoulder this burden alone. At Companioa by IOA, our social day program for dementia is here to support you. We understand the challenges of this journey and want to provide family caregivers like yourself with the opportunity to recharge and uplift their spirits. Call one of our friendly Connect Specialists today at (415) 750-4111 to learn more about our home care services and our customized social day program.