Coping with dementia is undoubtedly a tough thing to deal with—both for the person involved and the people caring for that person. Not only does it involve a loss of memory, but also of independence, autonomy, and sense of self.
If you have a loved one who’s been diagnosed with this terrible condition, you’ll want to learn everything you can about the proper ways to care for them. This guide will take you through the basics of dementia as well as some valuable dementia care advice. Read on for everything you need to know.
Dementia: The Basic Facts
Dementia affects more than 55 million people across the globe. Nearly 10 million new cases are reported every year. Although the vast majority of people who develop dementia are over the age of 65, in some rare cases younger people can develop early-onset dementia.
Rather than being a specific disease, dementia is the term used to describe the symptoms of a range of illnesses that cause a decline in a person’s functioning. These include conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and Lewy body disease. Sadly, it’s a disease that’s progressive and irreversible.
Dementia Care Advice
Managing dementia will never be an easy task, but knowing the advice and tips for people with dementia can make it a little bit easier. Although it is irreversible, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t certain interventions that can’t be helpful in improving the quality of life of your loved one.
Therapies like cognitive stimulation, cognitive training, and cognitive rehabilitation have all been shown to have positive results. Reminiscence work and therapies involving music can also be helpful.
If you’re caring for someone with dementia, it’s important to know possible therapies to try. But also behaviors to look out for and how best to communicate with your loved one.
Always try to create a positive mood in your interactions, and be as clear and simple as you can in your questions and answers. If your loved one gets upset at any point, try changing the subject.
Some behavior you may need to be on the lookout for is wandering and getting lost, incontinence, and agitation. These are things that can be difficult to deal with.
If you’re in the position to do so, hiring a nurse or moving your loved one to a facility where they can be cared for 24/7 might be a good idea. For more on your options in this regard, you can have a look here.
Caring for Your Loved One as Best as You Can
When you’re looking after a person with dementia, the best thing you can do is make them as comfortable and as happy as possible. In order to be able to do this, you’ll need to do plenty of research and confer with your health care provider.
Dementia care is difficult, so make sure you’re also looking after yourself and have access to dementia support. If you’re looking for more health advice, see the rest of our site now.
