If you provide care for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease or another kind of dementia, your involvement in managing day-to-day activities will become increasingly important as the condition develops. Think about some of the useful hints that can make it easier for a dementia patient to participate in as many activities as possible and help you get things done more efficiently. Dementia care Blackpool provides the caregivers who have mastered these tricks.
Relieve Frustrations
When formerly easy actions become challenging, a person with dementia may experience increased agitation. To reduce the number of obstacles and the amount of frustration:
Prepare a Sensible Timetable
Create a dementia care plan that you can stick to. When a person is at their most awake and refreshed, certain activities, like taking a bath or going to the doctor, become much simpler. Give yourself some margin for unplanned activities or tough days.
Take Your Time
Plan for the possibility that certain activities will use more time than they have in the past and allot more time to complete them. It is important to schedule time for breaks when working.
Get the Patient Involved
Encourage the person who has dementia to carry out as many of their usual activities as possible with as little support as feasible. There are several ways to help them, such as laying out the clothes in a specific sequence or using visual clues to help them put things away.
Provide Choices
There should be some options available every day, but not an overwhelming number. For instance, you may offer them two different clothing to select from, ask them whether they would rather have a warm or cold beverage, or inquire whether they would prefer to go for a drive or watch a movie.
Provide Simple Instructions
Communication that is straightforward and requires only one step is easiest for people with dementia to comprehend. Dementia care Blackpool ensures that their caregivers have this essential skill to communicate clearly.
Limit Napping
Avoid taking several naps or naps that are too long during the day. This can reduce the likelihood of getting the order of the days and nights mixed up.
Reduce the number of distractions
Avoid distracting the person with dementia at mealtimes and during conversations by turning off the TV and minimizing other noise sources.
Be Flexible
A person who has dementia will, over time, grow increasingly dependent on others. Maintaining flexibility and adjusting both your routine and your expectations according to the circumstances might help reduce feelings of frustration.
For instance, if they like to wear the same dress every day, consider purchasing a couple of identical clothes. Bathing should be done less frequently if it’s met with resistance.
Set Up a Secure Atmosphere
Because dementia makes judgment and the ability to solve problems more difficult, it raises the likelihood that a person will sustain an accident. To maximize protection:
Prevent Falls
Avoid anything that could cause them to fall, like scatter rugs, electrical wires, and clutter. In essential areas, install railings or grab bars.
Temperature Check
To avoid burns, lower the temperature setting on the water heater.
Fire Precautions
Put lighters and matches in an inaccessible location. If a dementia patient smokes, you should supervise. Check for a fire extinguisher and fresh batteries in smoke and gas detectors.
Conclusion
Each individual affected by dementia will have their own unique experience with the disease’s symptoms and progression. Adapt these useful tips to the specific requirements of your loved one or patient to provide the dementia care at home. If you think you cannot manage a dementia patient all by yourself, dementia care Blackpool is here at your disposal.