Taking care of an older adult who has dementia is always going to be demanding, but it’s important for caregivers to remember they can greatly enhance the lives of those they’re looking after as long as they remain diligent. With the proper care plan in place and some assistance from friends, you can help your aging loved one enjoy a long and fulfilling life for many years to come.
1. Create Safe Spaces for Your Loved One
One of the most important steps in the process of providing Annapolis dementia care services is making sure your loved one has a safe place in the home that’s completely his or her own. Setting up a bedroom is a great start, but you might also want to create a safe space in a communal area where your loved one can relax and interact with family and friends.
2. Get Rid of Dangerous Items
You’ll never be able to remove every single unsafe object from your loved one’s home, but you need to get rid of dangerous items such as firearms and lock up things such as prescription medications and toxic chemicals. Some experts also suggest putting childproof latches on any cabinets that contain valuable, dangerous, or fragile items.
Having a professional caregiver nearby can give you peace of mind about your loved one’s safety and comfort. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of elder care. You can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide an individualized care plan to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
3. Enhance the Lighting
In addition to increasing the risk of falling, poor lighting could also cause confusion. If your parent’s home has inadequate lighting, you might want to add some extra floor lamps or pendant lights. You must also make sure all the bathrooms and entryways remain well lit at all times.
4. Stock the Refrigerator with Healthy Snacks
Your loved one’s diet is going to be extremely important in the coming years, and you need to make sure there are plenty of nutrient-dense foods to snack on. Grab-and-go protein shakes, raw vegetables, fresh fruit, and unsalted nuts are all excellent options for seniors with dementia.
Caring for a loved one with dementia is a challenging task for anyone. The responsibilities can sometimes feel overwhelming, but help is available. Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted home care service provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help.
5. Maintain a Strict Routine
Most seniors with dementia thrive when they have strict routines they follow every day. Eating meals and going to bed at the same times each day can greatly reduce dementia symptoms while enhancing your loved one’s mood. A strict routine can also enhance your parent’s quality of sleep, which will benefit both your loved one and his or her caregivers.
6. Schedule Activities Outside the Home
Even if the home is safe and comfortable, your loved one needs to get outside and socialize with other people. A few times a month, you might want to have a family member or friend take your loved one out for a meal or to a favorite park. The break will also give you time to relax and focus on yourself.
7. Put Together a First Aid Kit
No matter how careful your loved one tries to be, he or she is probably going to experience at least a few minor injuries in the home. Luckily, a basic first aid kit allows you to quickly take care of most bumps, burns, and cuts. A well-stocked first aid kit should contain scissors, bandages, gloves, fever-reducing medication, a thermometer, and anti-inflammatory medication.
Even when families have the best intentions, caring for a senior loved one with dementia can be challenging. Fortunately, Assisting Hands Home Care Annapolis is here to help. We are a leading provider of dementia care. Annapolis families can take advantage of our flexible and customizable care plans, and our caregivers always stay up to date on the latest developments in senior care. Call one of our Care Managers today to learn about our customized Annapolis in-home care plans.
