Things Family Caregivers Should Know To Provide Excellent Dementia Care

 Dementia care requires caregivers to have a deep commitment to empathy and compassion, and an immense amount of patience. Not to mention, excellent dementia care requires taking caregiving approaches that are uniquely tailored to people who have dementia.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, which is a brain disease with symptoms including memory loss, personality changes, impaired reasoning, and extreme mood swings. Caring for someone with dementia poses many challenges. As the disease progresses, it becomes more and more difficult for individuals to remember things, think clearly, communicate with others, and take care of themselves. This blog offers some practical strategies for dealing with the troubling behavior problems and communication difficulties often encountered when caring for a person afflicted with dementia. These approaches to dementia care below by the award-winning Anthem Senior Living in Phoenix demonstrate how to provide high-quality care to someone who has dementia and how to avoid responses that could make dementia symptoms worse:

Agree, don’t argue- The changes in the brain that happen with dementia can cause your loved one to get confused. Instead of trying to correct them, which could lead to anger and frustration and can make the confusion worse, agreeing or simply switching to a different subject or activity is the best way forward.

Seek help from the start- As time will pass, your responsibility as a dementia caregiver will increase. Get support instead of trying to be the sole caregiver of someone, which can lead to burnout. Family caregivers will benefit from the help of professional caregivers who are specifically trained in caring for people who have dementia. So allow a professional caregiver meet your beloved now and let him/her start providing care, which will make it easier for your loved one to adjust to having assistance later on (so that you can take your much needed break). It is equally important to communicate with family members and friends and with a reputable assisted living facility.

Education, knowledge and training- Approaches to dementia care require a huge amount of education, knowledge, and training due to the complexity of the disease. Learn about the new types of treatments that are available today that can slow the progression of the disorder. There are strategies you can learn which can help with the advanced stages of dementia care.

Professional caregivers with training and expertise in methods of cognitive stimulation can be of great help for older adults with dementia. It’s time you reached out to Anthem Senior Living.

Show willingness to adapt quickly to changes- There should always be a plan in place in case of a sudden turn your loved one’s health can take, in your bid to address changes quickly to ensure his/her safety at all times.

Find ways to deepen your bond with your beloved- Find activities that you and your loved one both can enjoy, which will make your bond stronger. At the end of the day, spending quality time together is what makes all your hard work worth it.

Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges such as dementia. It is okay if you choose to take on the caregiving duties, but there may come a time when you need a trusted and professional caregiver. For around-the-clock assistance that family caregivers are not able to provide, contact Anthem Senior Living at 602.909.9550, and book a suite today.