Providing home care services to someone living with either Alzheimer’s or dementia takes great patience, flexibility, and careful planning to ensure your loved one maintains a happy life in the comforts of home. If you’re caring for a parent or grandparent struggling with memory loss and confusion, here are some tips to help you simplify his or her daily routine, provide ongoing care and support, and enjoy peace of mind and a better quality of life on your own.
In-Home Dementia Care
An essential part of home care services is helping a loved one perform daily activities, such as bathing, eating, toileting, and getting around. For someone living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, routine and simplicity represent key components to reducing confusion, agitation, or anger.
Here are 5 helpful tips on how to care for Alzheimer’s patients at home, inspired by the Mayo Clinic:
- Plan Ahead but Leave Room for the Unexpected: Though routine is important, especially with getting up each morning to bathe, eat breakfast, etc., remember to leave a little time set aside for variation (e.g. doctor’s appointment, special visits from family, grocery shopping, etc.)
- Ensure a Level of Privacy: When assisting a loved one with bathing, you may choose to wrap he or she in a towel to create a sense of modesty, where your loved one won’t feel embarrassed or exposed but can still maintain independence.
- Offer Clear Communication: Remember to be clear in your communication with a loved one. If offering instructions, be sure to focus on the person rather than trying to multitask. And try to keep steps to one or two to help avoid confusion.
- Slow Down: Though we’d all like to rush through activities or chores to complete them faster, remember that loved ones need you to be patient and allow them more time to complete tasks.
- Keep Your Loved One Proactive: Be sure to keep your loved one involved in daily activities, including cooking, cleaning, setting the table, gardening, dressing, etc.
Looking for more help for caregivers of dementia patients? Here’s some tips to give you peace of mind, too:
- Find a Caregiving Support Group: The important thing to remember is you’re not alone. In fact, there are millions of Americans providing care and support to their loved ones living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Check out your community, whether online or local, to find caregiving support groups near you. From there, you’ll have access to more tips and advice and can hear from others like you.
- Install Locks Around the House: To give you more peace of mind, you may consider installing locks on cabinets, drawers, and around the house to avoid your loved one from finding any items or chemicals that may cause harm or injury.
- Clear the Living Area: To avoid falls or accidents that could harm your loved one, be sure to keep all walking areas clear of furniture, chairs, rugs, and anything that can be considered a tripping hazard.
Get Paid for Your Home Care Services
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, approximately 16.3 million family members provided unpaid care to a loved one living with Alzheimer’s in 2018. That number will likely continue to grow. If you’re currently providing in-home dementia care to a loved one, contact Best Care today to learn about getting paid for your services.
Your loved one may qualify for home care services and you may be eligible to become a personal care assistant and receive compensation for your daily at-home care. Learn more by reaching out to our team for support today!
