Dementia is not a specific disease, but rather an umbrella term for the impaired cognitive ability to make decisions, think, and remember. It interferes with everyday activities and can take a toll on your loved one and your family.
It may be your first time taking care of someone with dementia and it can be very stressful. Listed below are steps you can follow to assess dementia and different dementia-related behaviors you can look out for. However, if situations get out of hand, contact a professional as soon as possible or look into finding a suitable retirement community.
Assessing Dementia
4 primary steps to understanding and addressing the behaviors:
- Detect and Connect
Try to understand where your loved one is coming from. It can be hard to put yourself in your loved one’s shoes, thus, try understanding their reality by using questions such as “Who?”, “What?”, “Where?”, “When?”, and “How?”.
- Address Physical Needs
Your loved one may have difficulties communicating and you may not realize that they have been going through physical problems such as hunger, the need to use the bathroom, and medical reactions. In addition, you would have to look for environmental triggers that may cause discomfort. This may include restrictive clothing, room temperature, and sounds.
- Address Emotional Needs
In addition to physical needs, their emotional needs need to be addressed too. Whenever you are with your loved one, think about how the situation feels to the person. Always reinforce that you are there to help and use your knowledge of their preferences to provide help.
- Reassess and Plan
Assess what went well in the previous three steps. Create adjustments and an intervention plan that includes situations that can be done better and professionals who can be contacted for advice.
Dementia-Related Behaviors
- Confusion
Your loved one may not recognize people they see or places they visit daily. Relationships and names may be forgotten and this confusion may result in your loved one suspecting others of improper behavior such as theft or infidelity.
- Aggression
Aggressive behavior can be both verbal and physical and may happen for no apparent reason.
- Repetition
Caregivers have to be very patient when attending to the needs of a person suffering from dementia. Dementia patients tend to repeat words and questions and may require the caregiver to repeat actions over again. This behavior is less harmful but can be stressful for the caregiver.
Senior Living at Morada Lake Arlington
In our retirement community, we understand that dementia can bring numerous challenges to the affected person and their family. We recognize that the right care for our residents with dementia is important as they deserve a more satisfying lifestyle. That is why we have partnered closely with healthcare providers and families and use a person-centered and scientific approach to dementia care.
If you require high-quality residential care for your loved one with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or any other memory-related condition, look into how our Memory Care Programs can help. Contact us to learn more about our retirement community or schedule a tour!
