A Look At Dementia Care From 3 Different Angles

“Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community” - Anthony J. D'Angelo.

Dementia is generally defined as gradual loss of cognitive abilities including memory, abstract thinking and communication due to conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or a brain injury. What makes it challenging for family members in Dallas and elsewhere in the U.S. is in some cases it is accompanied by personality changes and emotional upheaval.

Here’s how a dementia care plan from 3 different perspectives will look like.

How to Approach Them

Always take a positive approach to people with dementia. Let them feel understood, loved and supported. Caregivers need to note the following:

• Approach from front: Let them be aware you are coming. Approaching from behind can sometimes make them anxious.
• Offer hand: Touch is one of the human gestures to show we care. Hold hands or hug unconditionally.
• Stand on their sides: Take this supportive stance instead of standing in front of them, which may be perceived as confrontational.
• Use name to call them: Even if they forget many other things, their own name is the last thing they will forget. Call them by their first names.
• Crouch low: If they are lying down or seated on a chair, it is better to crouch. This will make them feel less threatened.

How to Get Cooperation From Them

Besides practising the above steps, use the following to get cooperation from senior dementia patients.

• Break things down into simple steps
• Keep instructions short, simple, and digestible 
• Use tactile and visual cues whenever possible
• Offer them simple choices
• Teach them to try things until they achieve results
• Use your hands gently and with respect to assist or guide them.

How to Travel With Them

Whenever you plan a family trip, make sure you consider the stage of your loved one’s dementia. Consult a physician to confirm if traveling is okay for such a patient, and if yes, what precautions you may need to take. This will mitigate any potential problems and all the family members can enjoy the trip. For dementia patients, the type of travel, duration and places visited matter a lot. Make sure you:

• take along medication
• avoid crowded places
• take assistance of another person
• keep frequent bathroom breaks
• travel light

Conclusion

The overall objective of these care strategies is to simplify how one deals with elderly persons with dementia. Caregivers need patience while assisting such people in activities of daily living so that there’s no aggravation of any sort. Acceptance of the reality and learning different coping mechanisms will make things easier for both the caregiver and patient. It is hoped that these tips help you overcome barriers at the time of delivering home care to dementia patients.