Seniors with dementia thrive in their home environments. Aging in a familiar place can help your loved one minimize the effects of memory loss and confusion. Making the best choice for your loved one’s living arrangements requires some careful planning, and these tips can make it possible to help him or her age in place while managing dementia symptoms.
Accept Offers for Help
Your first instinct as a caregiver may be to try to do everything yourself. While you might not be used to accepting help, you’ll likely need it as time goes on. Create a short list of things you can suggest when your family and friends ask how they can help you. For instance, you could have someone pick up your loved one’s medicine from the pharmacy or make frozen meals you can heat up quickly.
Caring for a senior with dementia can be challenging for family caregivers. Luckily, there is dementia care Anchorage families can rely on. Professional dementia caregivers help seniors with dementia stay safe and comfortable at home by preventing wandering, providing cognitive stimulation, and assisting with household chores.
Make Preventive Care a Priority
There are ways to slow the progression of dementia. For instance, a healthy diet gives the brain the nutrients it needs for optimum functioning. Regular exercise lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease and boosts blood flow to the brain. Your loved one will also need to attend regular medical appointments to make sure his or her treatment plan is working. Make these types of preventive care a major priority. If you need help, reach out to your family and friends. A professional caregiver can also help with time-consuming tasks such as driving your loved one to medical appointments.
Learn About Safe Ways to Limit Wandering
The risks of wandering go far beyond just getting lost. Your loved one could get hurt if he or she wanders off into dangerous territory. Criminals may also take advantage of vulnerable seniors they find wandering around without any assistance. The safest way to limit wandering is to have additional caregivers available to watch over your loved one when you’re sleeping or need to run errands.
Caring for a loved one with dementia is a challenging task for anyone. The responsibilities can sometimes feel overwhelming, but help is available. Families looking for top-rated Anchorage in-home care providers can reach out to Home Care Assistance. From respite care to specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care, there are many ways we can make life easier for seniors and their loved ones.
Create a Safe Environment
You can also do a few little things around the house to minimize the risk of your loved one getting injured. For example, an automatic shutoff switch on the stove can prevent fires or accidental burns. You may also need to put dangerous items such as cleaning chemicals out of reach to keep your parent from ingesting them.
Find Ways to Minimize Aggressive Behavior
You may find it difficult to imagine your sweet loved one could ever cause you harm. However, dementia-related aggression is one of those secrets you might not learn about until you become a caregiver. The fact that people don’t talk about this issue much means you may not be prepared until it happens. Start now by learning your loved one’s preferences and behavior patterns. Figuring out your loved one is at his or her best in the morning or after lunch helps you plan the more challenging parts of his or her daily routine around those times.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of at-home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. If your loved one needs assistance with the challenges of aging, reach out to one of our knowledgeable, compassionate Care Managers today at (907) 770-0907.