Some people are gifted with a good memory. Aside from keeping a good reading habit, one should keep their brains sharp by adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle. But as we age, it can be inevitable to experience being forgetful at some point. This can worsen as we age.
For many adults, one of their biggest fears is losing their parents, whether due to an illness or old age. In Dover, some residential home care institutions aim to provide proper care for those who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
Understanding dementia
Caring for a person with such a debilitating condition can be overwhelming. That is why we need to understand what we can expect in caring for someone who has this kind of disease. It can be inevitable to feel frustrated when caring for someone with dementia. However, it all boils down to empathy and respect toward the person with the condition.
Education is also an essential key in understanding what dementia is all about and how it can impact patients and the people around them. It can be frustrating to care for someone who has this condition. However, we should not ignore the other person’s feelings. Just as how hard it might be for these dedicated caregivers, it can be twice as much for those who are experiencing this debilitating disease.
Alzheimer’s can cause frequent mood swings and have a negative impact on your emotional health. People with this condition might feel useless and depressed, which won’t help in their healing and moving on with their lives. We should put ourselves in their shoes so that we can help them better.
How to deal with dementia patients
Here are some essential pointers to help you deal with patients who are suffering from Alzheimer’s. Whether it’s your parent or a patient you are caring for as a caregiver, everyone deserves living a life with dignity.
- Empathy and compassion are essential when taking care of a dementia patient. They can be prone to confusion and anxiety due to their condition. Lashing out at them for forgetting significant dates and events in their lives won’t help.
- Understand that dementia is not only about memory loss. Dementia patients also experience confusion, mood swings, and emotional outbursts. You might have to prepare yourself in these kinds of instances.
- Stay positive. What the patient needs is for you to feel pitiful on him/her. It can only make the person feel useless and depressed. As much as possible, keep a happy disposition when dealing with a dementia patient and show affection toward the person.
- Make sure to adjust to his or her needs. Ask simple questions that he or she can quickly answer and understand. You can use visuals to get the answers that you want.
- Make sure to let the person feel safe whenever you are around. Focus on his well-being, but do not forget about yourself. It would help if you were physically, mentally, and emotionally ready to take on this challenging task.
