Keeping Loved Ones with Dementia Safe and Happy at Home
It can be scary thinking of your senior loved one with dementia living at home. So many things can happen. Falls. Wandering the neighborhood. Leaving the oven on. But keeping them at home, in their familiar surroundings, is more than possible with the right type of care. While many of us think we can do it on our own, it can be difficult without help. Often family members team up for joint care, or move their senior loved one into their own home where they can keep an eye on them at all times. But still, even though they are safe, caring for them 24/7 can be emotionally and physically draining, which is where outside help can be a benefit.
As you work to ensure the best possible care for your senior, here are some tips for keeping your loved one with dementia safe and happy at home.
Ensure their Environment is Safe: Dementia can cause confusion and disorientation, which can lead to accidents and injuries. Ensure that your loved one's living space is safe by removing tripping hazards, installing handrails, and keeping dangerous items out of reach. Do not have anything that could cause a danger within their reach. Oftentimes ensuring the home is safe is almost like baby proofing a house, in that you might want to put things such as stove locks in place, or even locks that make it harder to sneak out of the home.
Get Some Help: Many home care agencies, including Right at Home Boston North, have on staff caregivers trained in working with clients suffering from Dementia. They can help you customize a care plan for your senior loved one. They can come into the home every day to help with needs such as getting dressed, reminding clients to take their medicine or helping with light housekeeping and meal prep. Home Care agencies also can offer respite care to give main caregivers a break for an afternoon, a night out or even a weekend. Work with a trusted home care agency to see what help they can offer, and see how it can help both physically and mentally.
Provide Social Interaction: Isolation can worsen symptoms of dementia, which makes it important to provide opportunities for social interaction. Encourage your loved one to spend time with family and friends, even if they resist at first. They also can participate in group activities such as music or art therapy, or even group therapy sessions.
Create a Consistent Routine: People with dementia thrive on routine, so it is important to establish a consistent schedule for meals, activities and bedtime. A consistent routine helps your loved one feel more secure and in control, which can reduce anxiety and agitation. For example, if they know that they go to bed every night after you watch the news together, it can help give them cues on what their next step should be. It can help them feel more in control and more comfortable.
Encourage Physical Activity: Regular exercise can help your loved one maintain physical health, reduce stress, and improve mood. Encourage gentle exercises such walking, stretching, or chair yoga. Take them for a walk each morning or each evening after dinner. It will allow you to spend time together, as well as get exercise. Though it might be tempting to do everything for them, have them still do things that they can on their own, so they are getting the physical movement that goes with sweeping up the kitchen or watering the plants.
Make Nutrition a Priority: Eating a healthy diet is important for overall health and wellbeing. Encourage your loved one to eat nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Consult with a healthcare provider if you need advice on dietary requirements for your loved one. It may be necessary to supervise their food intake, or even help them eat as the disease progresses to ensure they are getting the nutrition they need. You also can help proportion meals and snacks out ahead of time that they can keep in their refrigerator for easy access. While it allows them access to snacks, it also can help you see what they’ve eaten throughout the day and what they haven’t.
We Can Help
If you’re looking for help with your senior loved one this spring, or any season, our compassionate Right at Home caregivers can help. We offer services including companion care, personal care and specialty care services, including dementia care. For more than 19 years Right at Home has been serving the Boston and North community. We have compassionate, trustworthy employees ready to help care for your loved one in a variety of ways, from personal care to specialized care.
Right at Home Boston North can help you develop a customized care plan that is best for your senior loved one and your family. We offer a combination of personal care, companionship and homemaking, as well provide specialized care for your senior loved ones.
To find out more about our services and how they can help you, call us today at (617) 333-8967.
