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Caring for a loved one with dementia can be both an enriching and a challenging experience. Certainly, it’s wonderful to ensure they’re able to keep living in the family home, as doing so may provide them with a greater sense of comfort and support. For this to be a practical option, you need to take steps to ensure they are safe and comfortable.
It doesn’t need to be a complex process. With some consistent focus on a few key areas, you can help make certain your loved one with dementia has a positive home care experience.
Facilitating Regular Medical Care
Individuals living with dementia are likely to require ongoing medical treatment to ensure their safety, comfort, and wellness. Some medical care may be directly related to their experiences with dementia, perhaps receiving visits from community nurses or dementia specialists.
Other issues may be general health challenges associated with temporary illness or aging. One of your duties as a caregiver is to facilitate this regular medical care in a way that minimizes stress and maximizes impact.
You’ll find it helpful to take an organized approach. Maintain a record of the frequency of appointments and set reminders for them well in advance. This can help you to spend days leading up to these appointments preparing your loved one for the experience and taking note of any issues.
It’s also wise to communicate with the medical professionals involved to establish who will be attending to your loved one and what will be happening so you can communicate this to the patient.
Another important consideration is that those living with dementia may experience a certain amount of anxiety or stress around medical appointments. You can help them to overcome or manage medical anxiety by understanding the reasons behind it. Are they unnerved by the unfamiliar surroundings of the clinic, scared about procedures, or have they had difficult experiences in the past?
This information can enable you to offer the most relevant reassurance or support. Your willingness to be with them during appointments may help them feel a greater sense of comfort. Encouraging them to ask lots of questions of their physician is also a way to help them feel more in control of the situation.
Creating a Healthy Environment
Part of the key to ensuring the safety and comfort of a loved one living with dementia is to create a healthy home environment. Take the time to reduce the potential hazards and sources of discomfort in their living space. This doesn’t just prevent the direct causes of accidents and illness, but it can also minimize potential sources of stress.
Some areas for focus here may include:
Air Quality
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However, some plants boost indoor air quality, too. Rubber trees and peace lilies can be effective for filtering carbon monoxide, while corn plants and aloe vera can both address a range of toxins. Importantly, incorporating these plants into your loved one’s home will also provide a more pleasant living space.
Clutter
It’s very easy for clutter to gather in any home, particularly if your loved one has difficulty maintaining organization as a result of their condition or physical limitations. Unfortunately, the more clutter that amasses, the more confusing the space can become, not to mention that a mess creates hazards.
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Familiarity
Unfamiliar elements can be distressing and confusing for those living with dementia. If unexpected changes occur in their environment or items are moved without your loved one’s knowledge, this can influence their stress levels and, ultimately, their mental wellness.
It’s important, then, to help them maintain a sense of familiarity with their environment. This can involve ensuring furniture remains in consistent positions, essential items are kept in easy-to-reach places, and even that your loved one is surrounded by family photographs or favorite objects.
Maintaining Social Connections
It’s important for those living with dementia to maintain solid social connections. These relationships promote good cognitive well-being and enhance their overall quality of life standard.
Not to mention that spending time with those who care about them is vital for staving off the sense of isolation. Consequently, in your efforts to ensure the safety and comfort of your loved one with dementia, you should encourage social connections.
This can begin with arranging visits from and to long-term family and friends. These people have well-established relationships with your loved one, which can allow for a high level of emotional support. Indeed, friends and family can be key in helping to engage your loved one on an emotional and cognitive level by reminiscing about memories, taking part in favorite shared activities, and evoking positive sensations.
When it’s not possible to engage with friends and family in person, technology can provide valuable solutions. Help your loved one to take part in video calls. This can be particularly useful if key family or friends have moved far away, as it enables these connections to thrive, which can impact their sense of wellness and comfort.
Conclusion
Caring for a loved one with dementia at home requires a consistent focus on a few key areas. You can help facilitate their necessary medical appointments by maintaining an organized calendar and helping to address anxieties your relative may have.
It’s also important to help them maintain a healthy environment by reducing clutter, improving air quality, and maintaining invaluable elements of familiarity. Additionally, empowering them to maintain social connections can impact their mental and emotional well-being.
Nevertheless, it’s important not to feel as though the responsibility for all these elements are entirely on your shoulders. Taking on too much can be detrimental to your own well-being and could also impact the level of care your loved one receives. Be mindful of the care your loved one requires and reach out to other family members or professional services if it starts to become overwhelming.
About the Author
Sam Bowman
Sam Bowman
Sam Bowman writes about people, health, wellness, and how they merge. He enjoys getting to utilize the internet for a community without actually having to leave his house. In his spare time he likes running, reading, and combining the two in a run to his local bookstore.
Connect with Sam on LinkedIn.
