Living with Dementia

Tips from Dementia Care Experts

As people progress through Alzheimer’s disease and steadily lose many basic abilities, it is important for in-home caregivers to continue relating to that person in familiar ways. Monica Moreno, director of Early-Stage Initiatives at the Alzheimer’s Association, offers helpful tips for dementia caregivers as they support a loved one through their disease progression.

“People living in the early stages of Alzheimer's can still engage in activities and make meaningful contributions that bring purpose to their lives,” said Moreno. “As the disease progresses, it is important to continue engaging the person with Alzheimer's mentally, physically and socially.”

Particularly in the early and middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease when most people still have mobility and the ability to talk, caregivers can provide valuable daily routines for their loved one.

“The Alzheimer's Association recommends that families consider the person with Alzheimer's life-long interests,” Moreno remarked. “Whether it's listening to music, gardening, going for walks or even helping out with household tasks, activity and structure will help ensure quality of life for the person with the disease.”

Tips for Coping with Dementia

If you’re providing in-home dementia care for a loved one, it requires both planning for practical needs (such as their safety, meals, and medications) as well as ensuring their emotional needs are met. The specific help required from you will vary based on your loved one and which stage of Alzheimer’s they’re currently dealing with. In many cases, these two things can be combined when planning activities of daily living (ADLs) that can help your loved one retain some of their independence, maintain their home and hygiene, and even help their memory and overall sense of well-being. 

Things as simple as putting away laundry, folding clothes, putting away dishes, raking leaves, and other ordinary household chores can be reassuring and help the person with Alzheimer’s still feel useful. However, don’t expect these tasks to be done flawlessly – clothes might be put away in the wrong place, for example. The point is to create tasks that the person can easily complete.

An added benefit to these basic activities is that they use up energy. Since people with dementia often have difficulty sleeping at night, physical fatigue can be a blessing.

Furthermore, helping a person living with dementia with daily tasks gives a caregiver the opportunity to watch over them and help them avoid an activity that may cause them to fall. A helper or in-home caregiver can also take on some of the riskier activities that put the person living with dementia in a more hazardous position.

Guide to Living with Dementia

A dementia diagnosis can be overwhelming. You likely have many questions to address with medical providers and caregiving experts. Our Guide to Living with Dementia provides a wealth of information about how to cope through each stage of this progressive brain disease.

Dementia Diagnosis

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, but there are many others. Each type of dementia has unique symptoms and affects individuals differently. As physical and mental changes occur with any kind of dementia, find out what you can do to prepare yourself and your family. Our guide includes empathy and communication tips, along with practical ideas for making the person’s home safe.

Tips for Caregivers of Dementia Patients

For individuals living with dementia, quality of life is largely determined by their environment. The resources linked below offer helpful tips for dementia caregivers and explain small environmental changes that can yield a positive impact. 

• Daily Journal
• Dementia & Driving Skills
• Dementia-Related Falls
• Dementia & Verbal Communication
• Household Chores & Upkeep
• Hospice for Dementia
• Memory Recall Exercises
• Music Therapy
• Personal Hygiene
• Physical Exercise
• Refocus Attention
• Safety Precautions
• Structure & Routine
• Suggested Activities
• The 5 R's of Dementia Care
• Time & Place Orientation

We created these resources to make dementia home care a little less stressful for those who are caring for loved ones. We hope they offer some helpful coping strategies for dementia.

Coping with Dementia Is Easier with Help

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Our professional, compassionate caregivers can help with everything from providing respite care, to transportation, companion care, and more. Your local Homewatch CareGivers offers a full range of compassionate home care services that we constantly adjust to meet the person’s support needs.

To learn more about our dementia care services, contact us today or call (888) 404-5191 to schedule a free in-home consultation.