If your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, you may wonder how to provide them with the best care. When you are caring for someone with dementia or other forms of cognitive decline, there are certain things you can do to make everyday life easier to navigate. Seeking memory care resources and professional assistance is one of them.Â
You can contact Buckner Westminster Place at 903.329.6520 for assistance caring for a loved one with dementia.
10 Tips for Caring for a Loved One with Dementia
There are many ways to address dementia as a caregiver; the following are just 10 of the most helpful tips for caring for someone with cognitive concerns:
1. Learn New Ways of CommunicatingÂ
When a loved one has dementia, you may find that they have difficulty communicating verbally. Try establishing non-verbal cues and other signals that help your loved one express their wants and needs.
2. Prepare for Behavioral Changes
Another common symptom of dementia is a change in behavior. Some caregivers feel upset or startled when they begin to see changes in their loved one’s personality. To avoid this surprise, prepare yourself for things like irritability, mood swings, and increased sensitivity.Â
3. Use Memory Care Services
There are many resources that can help you care for someone with dementia. Make sure to look into local senior organizations that offer memory care services.
4. Decrease Stress and Agitation
Those with dementia are prone to mood swings and irritability. To make everyday life easier for them and yourself, try to avoid stressful, scary, or agitating situations.
5. Eliminate Dangerous Situations
Senior adults with dementia or other types of cognitive decline can become prone to wandering. You must increase their safety by eliminating access to dangerous situations like swimming pools, vehicles, and other nearby hazards.
6. Establish a Reliable Medical Team
Most people do not already know how to help someone with early dementia. If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, you will need a reliable, quality medical team to help you navigate their care.Â
7. Be Proactive
An important part of caring for someone with cognitive concerns is being proactive. As time goes on, you will begin to anticipate their needs and be prepared for certain issues that may arise.
8. Do Not Be Reactive
As you learn how to help someone with early dementia, you may find yourself feeling upset by certain behaviors. Many caretakers become overwhelmed by the complexities of this disease. Try not to be reactive and take things personally — understand that your loved one is going through a difficult change.
9. Find Appropriate Living Accommodations
Sometimes it is not safe for someone with dementia to remain in their own home. If this is the case, you may need to find an appropriate assisted living home where your loved one can reside.
10. Look to Friends and Family
If your loved one requires ongoing care, you may need to enlist the help of friends and family. Sometimes a team of caregivers is necessary to help senior adults with cognitive issues lead a better quality of life.
How to Find Help Caring for Someone with Dementia
When an older adult in your life has been diagnosed with dementia or another form of cognitive decline, it is important to do your research and find a quality senior care service. There are many resources available that aim to assist friends and family members who find themselves providing care for senior adults.
Memory Care at Buckner Westminster Place
Buckner Westminster Place is a leading provider of senior services, including memory care and the following:
- Respite care
- Independent living
- Assisted living
Contact us at 903.329.6520 to find out more about our memory care resources and other senior services.