Success Strategies for Taking Care of Dementia Patients
Being a caregiver to a senior citizen is tough. If you have your own family to care for as well as your aging parent, things get trickier. However, the most challenging situation for many is when their loved one has dementia or other memory loss issues. Handling all the different problems that can arise throughout the duration of the disease may leave you exhausted and frustrated. You might find your stress levels rising as you attempt to do everything. You don’t have to be caught in the middle of your parent and your family. A senior caregiver is a perfect option to ensure your loved one can age in place, even with dementia.
4 Suggestions for a Winning Caregiver Strategy
Basketball teams and successful entrepreneurs understand that to win, you need a strategy. Caregivers can learn much by taking a page from their book. Here is what a winning strategy can look like in your life as a senior caregiver for a dementia patient:
- Make the Home Safer: All seniors need a safe home – dementia patients much more so. Start by looking around at the present surroundings. Are there things that need to be put up or removed? Do you have emergency phone numbers conveniently located? Make sure you have fire extinguishers in working order and ready. Consider adding a walk-in tub or shower, grab bars, and safety sticker on slick surfaces. Add nightlights to entryways, staircases, doorways, hallways, and bathrooms.
- Do Your Research on the Disease: Caring for your aging parent may be challenging and dementia can make things unpredictable. It will be significantly more challenging when they have memory issues. It helps you as a caregiver when you research and understand what you are up against. Remind yourself that you don’t need to be perfect, but you can try your best to provide the right care at home and call for professional caregiving support to help you out. Understand that there will always be ebbs and flows as the disease progresses.
- Find Time for You: You will face burnout if you do not take time for yourself. Make dates with your spouse—plan family time. Enlist the help of family members or a respite care service through a senior caregiving company. Most of all, schedule some ‘me-time’ to spend it having lunch with a friend, going to a spa, reading a book, or taking a nap.
- Be Willing to Bring in Outside Help: Remember, you cannot do it all on your own. Please keep it in the back of your mind as to when you will bring help in from outside. You can get help with companionship, light housekeeping, making meals, and other services. You may also have to consider long-term support in the later stages of the disease.
Beat Caregiver Stress and Depend on Home Instead
Be the best you can be when you develop your winning strategy for taking care of your loved one with dementia. The Home Instead team in Hamilton offers families support during many stages of an older person’s life, including Alzheimer's and dementia care. You can rest peacefully knowing that all is well for your mom or dad. Get the support you need when you contact us today.
Call us at (905) 521-5500 to schedule a no-obligation, in-home consultation. Learn more about the compassionate, quality senior care we deliver, every day, to families in Hamilton Mountain, Downtown Hamilton, Rosedale, Kings Forest, Binbrook, Meadowlands, Ancaster, and Dundas.