Caring for a parent with dementia is a rewarding role with a plethora of responsibilities that may appear difficult to manage.
As the condition advances, so too will your approach to caregiving. But, you can continue to support your loved one by:
- Fostering a supportive environment
- Becoming flexible
- Altering your communication style
- Developing a routine
- Staying informed
Challenges With Dementia
Dementia is often associated with forgetfulness and increasing memory loss, both of which are common to experience as we grow older. However, dementia isn’t considered a normal part of aging.
Dementia is a collective term used to describe various symptoms of cognitive decline. This condition can significantly impact daily living by affecting memory, language, reasoning, fine motor skills, and communication regions of the brain.
Dementia develops primarily due to the degeneration of neurons, which transmit signals throughout the brain.
As these neural cells become damaged and die, regions of the brain responsible for memory, language, reasoning, and fine motor skills begin to shrink, resulting in the gradual decline of these cognitive functions.
The symptoms of dementia are progressive. Over time, people’s cognitive impairment will worsen, which is why it’s common to require ongoing care and support.
Tips for Caregiving: How to Support Your Loved One
Caring for a loved one with dementia is rewarding, but not without its challenges and responsibilities. Ongoing changes in symptoms as the condition progresses require you to remain patient, gentle, and flexible in your approach to caregiving.
What’s important is you continue to foster a strong connection with your loved one. Not every day will be easy, and each day may require a different approach.
Remember, what works today may not work tomorrow. Allow yourself the opportunity to refocus and try something new.
Foster a Supportive Environment
A supportive environment significantly contributes to the well-being of a person with dementia.
Curating a calm, organized, and distraction-free living space for your loved one helps minimize feelings of anxiety and frustration. Incorporating familiar objects and photographs around the home can also serve as comforting reminders of cherished memories, and evoke positivity, and a sense of identity.
Maintaining a supportive environment involves physical changes in the surroundings and emotional support, encouraging your loved one to remain engaged and connected.
Reassure them often of your love and presence, using gentle tones and empathetic words to create a warm atmosphere.
Celebrate their achievements, no matter how small, to boost their confidence and self-esteem.
Be Flexible
It’s common for people to experience mood swings or behavioral changes with dementia.
Some days may be good, when your loved one is calm, attentive, and feel like themselves. On bad days, they may feel agitated, irritated, and confused.
There’s no rhyme or reason to it. Try not to take it personally, and instead, focus on how to support your loved one based on their changing moods.
For instance, if it appears as though your parent requires a little more attention, be present for them. Or, if they seem like they’d like some space, be around for them but try to keep some distance.
As their cognitive abilities change so too will their behavior and mood. Gradually, your parent will become increasingly dependent on your support and require ongoing assistance to complete daily tasks.
Being flexible in your approach to caregiving means adapting to their ongoing needs based on their daily cognitive abilities and preparing yourself for the emotional aspects of caregiving.
Alter Your Communication Style
Dementia impacts the communication and language centers of the brain. This leads to difficulty speaking, comprehension, or finding the right choice of word. Your parent may easily lose their train of thought, rely on gestures instead of words, and gradually speak less often.
Therefore, to effectively speak and engage with your parent, you’ll likely need to alter how you communicate. Some helpful tips include:
- Using simple language
- Using non-verbal cues
- Limiting distractions
- Chatting face-to-face
It’s important to be patient and encourage your parent. Engage in active listening to acknowledge their feelings and experiences. By fostering this supportive environment, your parent will continue feeling safe around you.
Remember, the goal of these conversations isn’t about their quantity or quality, but about spending meaningful time with your loved one. Don’t be afraid of silence. Sometimes, your very presence is enough.
Develop a Routine
Creating a structured routine can be reassuring and calming for someone with dementia. A predictable, daily plan can reduce feelings of anxiety, and confusion, improve mood, and support memory.
Consistent scheduling of daily activities, like wake-up times, meals and mealtimes, activities and leisure time, scheduled visits, and bedtime, helps provide a sense of stability.
It’s important to keep these routines simple and flexible enough to accommodate changes in your loved one’s mood and energy. No routine is set in stone. Be flexible enough to allow spontaneity or change activities if they seem frustrated or bored.
Explore and adjust your parent’s routine as you learn what they respond well to. Changes in their cognitive abilities will likely lead to changes in their daily routine.
Stay Informed
Educating yourself about the disease’s progression and impacts on cognitive and physical abilities helps set realistic expectations and adapt your caregiving strategies accordingly.
This can include researching dementia and ongoing developments in its management and care using reputable sources like medical journals, research foundations, and healthcare providers.
Networking with other caregivers through support groups or online forums can offer valuable insights and shared experiences, fostering a sense of community and mutual support.
Remember, every individual’s journey with dementia is unique, so staying informed will help you adapt your approach to meet the specific needs of your loved one.
Asking for Help: Considering Memory Care
Recognizing when your parent may benefit from professional care and support in memory care comes with the territory of caregiving.
Connect with our team at Bellevue Village at Neese Road & Woodstock to schedule a tour of our memory care community.
