{"id":8776,"date":"2024-09-15T19:30:41","date_gmt":"2024-09-15T23:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/4-things-to-remember-when-supporting-a-loved-one-with-dementia\/"},"modified":"2024-09-15T19:30:41","modified_gmt":"2024-09-15T23:30:41","slug":"4-things-to-remember-when-supporting-a-loved-one-with-dementia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/4-things-to-remember-when-supporting-a-loved-one-with-dementia\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Things to Remember When Supporting a Loved One with Dementia"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Caring for people with dementia is challenging in different ways. They\u2019re in a progressing state of cognitive decline, and watching it develop can be emotionally draining. You might be seeing somebody who raised you now need care themselves.<\/p>\n

Dementia affects people differently. Caring for those with dementia can be a difficult balancing act where you need to give the person agency and independence while also ensuring they\u2019re safe. Here are four things to remember that will help you provide them with support.<\/p>\n

1. Familiarity Helps<\/h2>\n

People with dementia may feel more comfortable surrounded by things that seem familiar, like old pictures of family and friends or items they\u2019ve grown up alongside. Many people with dementia react positively to music from their childhood, as the sounds have a way of lodging themselves deep in a person\u2019s memory.<\/p>\n

2. Positive Reinforcement<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s easy to feel upset or sad when a person with dementia struggles to remember things, including personal things that seem obvious, such as who you are. Don\u2019t take it personally! It\u2019s important to frame their memory struggles in positive terms.<\/p>\n

Remind them gently, rather than act despondent and say things like, \u201cdon\u2019t you remember?\u201d It may feel hurtful to see someone you love forget who you are, but they\u2019re in a state of cognitive decline. That\u2019s the condition speaking, not their heart.<\/p>\n

3. Agency and Independence<\/h2>\n

People with dementia are still adults who need to be given space to act independently. Support them in this by colour coding or clearly labelling drawers with their clothes in them to help with daily routines.<\/p>\n

They may need help depending on the nature of their condition, but it\u2019s important to respect their sense of agency. Sometimes, their sense of \u201cself\u201d may be in flux, and there\u2019s a tremendous social expectation they need to bear to act like the people you remember.<\/p>\n

But they still very much are themselves, and it\u2019s best to create an environment in which they can be safe and happy, and retain their independence.<\/p>\n

4. Professional Assistance<\/h2>\n

As a person\u2019s dementia advances, caring for them may be difficult or impossible, despite the caregiver\u2019s best intentions. Look for a home for seniors living with dementia<\/a> that is led by nurses who understand the range of conditions people face and the type of environment they need.<\/p>\n

The best centres have a warm, embracing philosophical approach supported by clinical knowledge and experience. For example, they understand the difference between the absence of agitation and a person\u2019s true well-being<\/a> and believe that reducing anxiety can\u2019t be founded on deception.<\/p>\n

Caring for them isn\u2019t about managing their behaviours. Rather, it\u2019s about providing the most nurturing, supportive atmosphere possible.<\/p>\n

People change as they get older. Dementia can take many forms<\/a>, and not all memory loss is necessarily a form of dementia. Supporting loved ones who have these conditions can be difficult for many reasons, but if you keep the above four tips in mind, it should guide you and help provide a better level of care.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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