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26 Jul 2017

How to Help a Relative Who Is Living with Dementia

   

Topics: Senior Health

Every year, 25,000 Canadians are diagnosed with dementia. While many people think of dementia as a specific disease, it’s actually a group of symptoms. These symptoms affect people’s memories and mental abilities, and they interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia. Stroke, blood vessel conditions, and Parkinson’s disease can also lead to dementia.

If one of your relatives or loved ones is living with dementia, you may be wondering how you can help. There are many things you can do to make your loved one’s life easier. Here are some ways you can help a relative or loved one living with dementia.

Offer Emotional Support

People who are living with dementia may be aware of their situation, especially in the early stages. They may notice that they’re losing their memories or having trouble with basic tasks. They may be scared about what will happen to them in the future. Understandably, this can make them feel very upset. Your relative may feel sad, hopeless, or frustrated with their situation.

To help a relative in the early stages of dementia, try to offer emotional support. Talk to your relative about their feelings and concerns. If your relative doesn’t feel comfortable talking about their feelings, encourage them to keep a journal, instead. Of course, spending time together is also valuable. Spend time with your relative, and do activities that both of you enjoy. This helps your loved one feel companionship.

Make Their Home Safer

Many people want to age in the comfort of their own homes. That’s true for people with dementia, too. However, your relative could injure themselves if their home isn’t safe. It’s easier to change your relative’s environment than to change their behaviour. Follow home safety tips to help prevent injuries.

For example, you can install a shower chair or walk-in tub to make improve their bathing routine. You can also lock up any hazardous products like medicines, cleaners, and electrical appliances. If your relative or loved one accidentally gets locked out of the bathroom, remove the lock to keep the problem from recurring.

Provide Help with Daily Tasks

As dementia progresses, people will start having difficulty with daily tasks. These tasks include personal care tasks, like having a bath or getting dressed. Household chores, like cooking dinner or doing the dishes, can also become difficult. People will also need help with more complicated tasks such as managing finances.

If your relative is still able to do some tasks independently, let them. Promoting independence boosts confidence and reduces stress for caregivers. For example, if your loved one can’t cook a full meal any more, ask your relative to help with a portion of the task. They may be able to do something small, like washing the vegetables.

Get Professional Help

At some point, your relative’s condition may become too advanced for you to handle on your own. They may need professional Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Professional caregivers can provide a customized home care plan to your relative. They can help with everything from daily tasks to medication reminders.

You don’t need to wait until your relative has late-stage dementia to seek help. Professional help can benefit your relative living with dementia and the rest of your family even in the early stages of dementia. By using caregivers, you can spend more quality time with your relative.

Professional caregivers can also relieve the stress you may feel if you’re spending a lot of time caring for your relative. People who provide care for relatives can become physically, emotionally, or mentally exhausted. This is known as family caregiver burnout. To prevent caregiver burnout, get help before you think you need it.

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Tennille Kerrigan

Tenille is the president of Senior Helpers Canada, the premier franchise that delivers on what families and their loved ones need most. She has bachelor’s degree in business administration from York University, and has over 10 years of experience as a business owner and director. With Senior Helpers, our franchisees provide the professionalism and expert care that families and their aging loved ones require.

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