Things to consider
Taking care of a loved one who has dementia is difficult. They will undergo many changes. These include:
Agitation
Your loved one can be agitated (annoying). It can be for many different reasons. A sudden change in the environment or frustrating situations can cause this. Moving to a new apartment, a home, an elderly home or the hospital can cause agitation. Dressing or answering questions incorrectly can cause frustration. There are also other causes of agitation. These may include being questioned about their confusion. This may include the inability to do things they used to do. Your loved one can cry, become irritable or try to hurt others in some way. To minimize agitation, try:
- Avoid strong noises and overestimulation. A quiet and pleasant atmosphere with faces and family things helps relieve fear and anxiety.
- Establish realistic expectations. Waiting too much from your loved one can frustrate and bother you. Let your loved one help with simple and pleasant tasks. This includes preparation of meals, gardening, crafts and photo classes. Make other tasks less difficult. For example, instead of your loved one dressed alone, just make a part of the outfit. It could be a shirt, a shoe, a hat, etc.
- Limit the frequency of difficult tasks. If bathing or showering is difficult, make your loved one do it every two days. Plan difficult tasks at a time when your loved one is less agitated.
- Be positive. Frequent praise for your family member will help them feel better. It will also help you.
Sleep problems
Dementia causes changes in sleep patterns. Your loved one can get restless or awake at night. They can confuse at night and day or sleep all day. Or they can be more confused at night in general. Try one or more of the following if your loved one has problems sleeping:
- Establish a routine. Keep awakening in the morning and bedtime at night.
- Make obvious time. Keep the curtains or open blinds so you can say it from the day from night. Place the watches where you can see them.
- Limit junk food. Control the amount of caffeine, sugar and unhealthy foods consumed by your loved one.
- Make a priority movement. Make sure your loved one exercise every day. Avoid exercising too close to bedtime.
- Nap limit.Too many naps during the day makes it difficult to sleep at night.
- Make your loved one loved be repaired. Make sure the room is calm at night. Provide a night light at night or leave a faint light on. Total darkness can increase confusion.
- Relieve pain. Talk to the doctor of your loved one if you have arthritis or other painful condition. This affects sleep quality.
Wandering
Wandering means walking in the middle of the night. In addition, it could mean moving away from the home or home of the elderly without permission. Simple things can help with this problem. It’s okay that your loved one wanders in a safe place, as in a fenced patio. By providing a safe place, you can avoid confrontation. If you cannot provide a safe place so that your loved one wounds, try the following:
- Block doors. Remember your loved one not to go through a certain door. Place a stop sign or place a furniture in front of it. A tape tied by a door also serves as a reminder. Try hiding the door knob by placing a cloth strip on it. The use of children’s locks can cause frustration and agitation.
- Use an alarm system. This will alert you that your loved one is trying to leave a certain area. Your alarm system can be professional. Or it can be a few empty cans tied to a rope in the door knob.
- Install special locks. This may be necessary. However, keep in mind that this could be dangerous in the fire of a house. Keep the keys near the door. Make sure all other family members know where to find the keys. Teach everyone how to open the doors. Do not use this method if your loved one will stay alone at home.
- Give your loved one identification bracelet. Make sure they use it. It must include the name, address, telephone number and the medical conditions of the person in case of emergency. In addition, this is useful if your loved one is lost. Consider buying a digital device that uses GPS to track the whereabouts of a person.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations are the experience of seeing something that is not really there. If your loved one has hallucinations that are causing fear and anxiety, try the following:
- Keep the rooms well illuminated. This helps minimize shadows.
- Keep dangerous items out of reach. This is for your safety and to be loved.
- Offer simple explanations.To calm a loved one, provide a simple reason why they should not be afraid. But don’t discuss. This adds to your agitation.
- Distracted. Involving your loved one in a pleasant activity can help reduce fear, anxiety and frustration.
- Talk to a doctor. If the hallucinations are serious, talk to the doctor of your loved one. Medicine can help.
Questions to ask your doctor
- What happens if I can’t afford care?
- Can it be a caregiver to impact my health?
- How do I recognize the changes in my loved one?
- Can a person with dementia be violent?
Resources
National Institute on Aging: personality management and behavioral changes in Alzheimer’s
National Health Institutes, Health News: Treat with dementia
