Caregiving Tips on Elderly With Dementia

Caring for someone with these conditions can be stressful. And you may have a challenging time fulfilling your role as well.

The following tips provide some practical ways to cope with the difficulties of caring for someone with dementia.

Schedule Wisely

The consistency of a daily routine can be helpful to a person with dementia. Much like a familiar environment can be comforting, establishing a daily routine can provide a sense of control over a chaotic life. You can create a routine around wake-up times, meals, and bedtimes.

Let your patient know what to expect as you develop the routine, regardless of whether they understand the instructions. Try to personalize the schedule to the patient's preferences and previous activities as much as possible. Even the smallest details of a loved one's daily routine can have a profound effect.

Additionally, be flexible and adapt as necessary, considering that dementia patients' abilities and preferences may change from day to day.

Plan Engaging Activities

Maintaining a busy schedule keeps the mind fresh and open to new experiences. Patients with dementia should therefore maintain an active physical and mental lifestyle.

A care recipient's interests and skills should guide your choice of activities. Building on existing skills is more effective than learning something from scratch. Also, ensure that the interest is appropriate for the patient's current ability level so they do not become frustrated.

Try to plan activities that won't overwhelm the patient. Excessive stimulation or activity at the wrong time may make the patient feel overburdened.

To avoid boredom, you can also vary your activities. Try playing board games, dancing, painting, and telling stories. You can also visit a park or garden or play with your pets outdoors.

No matter how short the activities are, they can be quite therapeutic and relaxing. Engaging in social activities also helps to maintain social bonds while challenging one to recall memories.

Improve Home Safety

You can prevent many stressful and dangerous situations by making the home environment safe. To identify and eliminate hazards within their home, caregivers who help with patients with dementia must view their homes through a new lens.

Safety assessments of each room in the home are the first step in the process.

You can do the following for safety:

• Put handrails in the shower and remove any throw rugs or hazards that might contribute to a fall.
• Install an automatic shutoff switch on appliances and cover electrical outlets for safety.
• Remove the locks on the doors so that seniors cannot accidentally lock themselves. 
• Ensure all medications are properly labeled and in a locked cabinet or box.
• Lock away lighters, guns, power tools, knives, scissors, and other potentially hazardous items.

If the patient has persistent cognitive symptoms, you may need to supervise them in the shower and not allow them to cook on their own.

Be Prepared for Sundowning

Sundowning is a period of restlessness, irritability, and confusion that occurs late in the afternoon and early evening.

Sundowning typically results in the worsening of existing symptoms rather than new ones, in particular mental and behavioral symptoms. Sundowning can be challenging for caregivers because it often prevents the patient from sleeping.

Predictable bedtime routines can help you manage sundowning. Limiting daytime napping and caffeine before bedtime, as well as increasing activity during the day, can also help.

Taking care of someone with dementia takes a lot of patience and dedication. Learning more about the condition can help you perform your duties to the fullest extent possible.