develop a routine<\/a>. You will notice that even your loved one will be more prepared to take on the day and feel less anxious this way. People with Alzheimer’s disease are comfortable following a fixed routine every day.<\/p>\nA routine allows them to become aware of and grow comfortable with the activities they have to indulge in each day. Sudden changes in the plan can leave patients confused, and thus agitated.<\/p>\n
According to Holly Hart, L.V.N., director of residential health services at Claremont Manor, people facing memory loss and other dementia symptoms “thrive on familiarity.”<\/p>\n
Plus, having a routine can also help you as a caregiver by eliminating any last-minute frustration.<\/p>\n
3) Ask simple questions<\/h2>\n
While this may seem like an obvious thing to do, not many caregivers make an effort to do it. Don\u2019t make the mistake of asking complicated or open-ended questions from those with dementia. A question such as, \u201cwhat would you like to eat for lunch today?\u201d may sound very simple to you, but might not be for a patient.<\/p>\n
As dementia gradually impairs their ability to initiate, plan or complete an activity – an open-ended question may increase their confusion. As a caregiver, keep in mind that their brain is slowly losing its ability to connect pieces of information or respond coherently.<\/p>\n
So, try a less complicated question such as, \u201cwould you like to have some pasta?”. The key is to stick with questions that require a simple \u2019yes\u2019 or \u2019no\u2019 reply.<\/p>\n
4) Schedule time for exercise<\/h2>\n
Make it a point to schedule some form of physical activity in your patient\u2019s daily routine. Not only will it benefit you physically and mentally, but will also help slow down brain aging in your loved one.<\/p>\n
According to research, being physically active can help fight against symptoms of dementia. Exercise stimulates blood circulation to the brain, which helps create more neuron connections. A 20-minute workout session per day can enhance focus and clarity and act as an energy booster for the patient.<\/p>\n
5) Don\u2019t underestimate the power of touch<\/h2>\n
Brushing your loved one’s hair or holding their hand while walking are seemingly simple gestures, but can have a profound effect. A simple touch can make a person with dementia feel safe and understood.<\/p>\n
It shows them that you are there for them in their struggle. In fact, recent studies prove that making a fist can stimulate the brain to boost recall.<\/p>\n
6) Take care of yourself<\/h2>\n
Most caregivers are so busy looking after their loved ones with dementia that they forget to take care of themselves. To avoid caregiver’s burnout, make sure to take some time out for yourself every day, even if it is only for a few minutes. Join a local or online caregiver support group and talk to other people who are in the same situation as you.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n
Caring for a family member with dementia is not easy. It can be very demanding and stressful. Empathizing with their situation can help you go a long way in trying to improve their quality of life. Try to keep them engaged in ways that build focus<\/a>.<\/p>\nRemember, while caring for someone with dementia can be difficult, if handled with love and sensitivity, it can turn out to be a journey of spiritual and physical enrichment for both of you.<\/p>\n
What are the challenges you faced when caring for someone with dementia? We\u2019d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The onset of dementia can generate a lot of fear and concern for everyone involved. The patients are already worried as they can observe a decline in their mental faculties. Then there are the family members who become patients\u2019 primary caregivers and support system. According to research by The Alzheimer’s Association, around 15 million Americans […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":784,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=783"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/783\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/784"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyfitnessfood.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}