When a loved one has Dementia, you see the effects the condition can have. Symptoms such as memory loss, confusion and mood changes can affect day to day life. The severity of these symptoms can vary from day to day too.
It can take a lot of patience and understanding to learn and know when to assist or when to let family members do a task independently.
It is common to need extra help and support so you can both stay active and preserve quality of life.
There are multiple ways you can support a family member with Dementia:
Learn about their diagnosis
Dementia can develop in multiple ways, affecting people in different ways too. By understanding more about dementia, it can help you understand your loved one’s situation. Tag along to medical appointments and ask questions. Helping you to have a better understanding of what to expect and how to help best.
It would also be beneficial to discuss what assistance your loved one needs. Here you can assess how much support is needed, how much can or cannot be done by themselves and what type of outside support is needed as well.
Support with daily tasks
Everyday tasks can become more difficult with dementia. Ask your loved one if they would like support, you could offer to run errands, pick up medications, or prepare meals for example. Any day-to-day tasks they have difficulty with doing on their own.
We recommend you write these tasks down so you can document what and how often you’re providing support. Not only can this help you to see any changes in support needed but can also help if you look for outside support in the future.
Stay active
Staying active can improve strength and wellbeing. Encourage your loved one to get moving by joining them on a walk. You could sign up for local specialist classes or even do light exercises at home together. It can also be a great opportunity to give a listening ear and provide emotional support and connection.
Remember to have patience with planning activities, be prepared to adjust your plans if your loved one doesn’t feel well enough.
Observe for any changes
When supporting a loved one every day you can easily miss subtle changes. By noting developments in mood or abilities, you can quickly and efficiently adapt your support to suit. It can be tough to discuss tasks your loved one cannot do safely anymore.
If you’ve noticed subtle changes, discuss these with your loved one’s medical support who can help advise you on how best to approach the topic.
Here at Verina Daly Care, we understand it can be a difficult time when trying to respond to behaviour patterns that seem out of character. Our team of friendly trained caregivers can be here to support you in the situations caused by Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
Families are now looking to home care providers for support with Alzheimer’s and Dementia care, rather than making the decision to choose a residential care home, allowing their loved ones to remain at home where they are in familiar surroundings and environments.
Take care of yourself
Potentially one of the most important and overlooked things a supportive family member can do is to take care of themselves. Being a caregiver can be a demanding role. Our Take A Break care services are an opportunity for caregivers to take a holiday or take time out for themselves, safe in the knowledge that we will provide the same care and support that you provide for your loved one.
We’re here to help
Our main focus is, and always will be, the best standard of care and support for each and every one of our clients in their own home. We ensure every client is cared for as an individual, with their specific care needs assessed and met with the highest standards, while also tailoring to their preferences.
We are now taking consultation bookings for anyone that wishes to discuss any of our professional home care services in more detail. The management team in the office would be happy to speak with you at any time so please get in touch.
