Key Takeaways
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Learn about your parent’s dementia diagnosis, and track their symptoms and behaviors to best plan for their care.
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Seek treatment and support options for your loved one, while also remembering to support yourself so you can best care for them.
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Anticipate hard-to-deal-with symptoms, and make the home a safe and enriching space to ensure their emotional and physical needs are met.
Help them keep their financial and legal needs in order, and help them plan for any future advanced care needs.
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1. Learn about your loved one’s disease
Understand what to expect with a dementia diagnosis. This can help you feel more confident and empowered to create a dementia care plan that fits your relative’s needs and improves their quality of life. Learn about proven lifestyle changes, like exercise (physical and mental) and brain-healthy diets, clinically shown to slow the progression of dementia.
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2. Seek medical treatment
There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s or dementia, but specialized dementia treatments are available to help with symptoms. Things like behavior management strategies and supportive therapies can help ease symptoms and improve quality of life. Stay in close contact with your loved one’s doctor to discuss the right treatment for their disease.
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3. Understand dementia behaviors
Aggression, confusion, and manipulation are all common symptoms of dementia. It can be hard to adjust to your loved one’s new behaviors, and it’s important to come up with coping strategies to help you handle your own reactions. It can be difficult to accept the sadness, anger, denial, and fear that both you and your loved one may experience. You may grieve for your parent — especially if they already have significant memory loss.
Encourage your loved one to talk to you about their feelings honestly instead of acting out. It’s OK if you don’t have answers and solutions. Showing support and a listening ear can go a long way.
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4. Find support for yourself as well
You’re not alone. Joining a caregiver support group online or in person can help you find information, advice, encouragement, and connection with others who are sharing your experiences.
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5. Anticipate that they may not accept the dementia diagnosis
After a recent diagnosis, it’s understandable for your loved one to go through a period of denial. However, some people with Alzheimer’s or dementia truly don’t comprehend their diagnosis over the long term. Your loved one may have anosognosia — the inability to recognize dementia — which can be diagnosed by their doctor.
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6. Make home a safe place
Assess your loved one’s home for common dementia safety risks. For instance, remove potential fall hazards, such as rugs and electrical cords in walkways. Be sure that fire and carbon monoxide alarms are installed and working. Use technology to help you stay connected and keep track of your loved one’s whereabouts.
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7. Engage in fun activities with your loved one
Your family member can still feel fulfilled and enjoy specialized activities. Try to engage the senses and give your loved one plenty of opportunities to connect with the world. Music, smells, and family photographs can all spark memories and enjoyment. Depending on interests, art, music, and dog or pet therapy show positive effects on dementia patients.
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8. Assess safety on the road
Is your loved one getting lost on familiar routes? Do they seem confused or have trouble following instructions? Drivers with dementia can lose focus as their cognitive function declines. Keep an eye out for possible signs that it might be time to stop driving.
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9. Organize financial and legal matters
Encourage your loved one to organize legal and financial documents. Important documents — such as a list of bank accounts, tax returns, and vehicle titles — should be stored for easy access. This is a good time to prepare or update a will, living will, and financial and medical power of attorney. An elder law attorney or certified financial planner can help you and your loved one plan for essential legal and financial matters.
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10. Plan for the future
Your loved one will increasingly need more help as their dementia care needs evolve. Establish support networks early on so they’re available to rely on as your parent’s disease progresses. Get help from other family members, look for home care for dementia or respite care, or learn about memory care communities. Memory care communities offer round-the-clock supervision and care services with specially trained staff for seniors with dementia or other forms of memory loss.
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Finding care for your parent with dementia
A dementia diagnosis encourages most people to treasure the remaining time they have with their loved ones. During the later stages of dementia, it may not be possible to interact with them much anymore. So cherish moments together now, and seize opportunities to tell them how much they mean to you. Don’t dwell on the skills they have lost or may lose. Instead, focus on what your loved one can still do and provide or find care support for them that can keep their life enriched and safe.
This article originally appeared on APlaceForMom.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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