According to some statistics, about five million men and women in the US are dealing with dementia, a mental disorder that is still considered to be incurable. Besides the fact that this brain disease results in a wide range of problems for the patient, it also makes taking care of these patients harder. Since the vast majority of dementia patients are living in their own homes, in many cases their children need to deal with the consequences. Of course, it is good to point out that there are many home care agencies like All Heart that have professional caregivers trained and skilled for taking care of any category of senior citizens. It doesn’t really matter if you have professional help or not, it is always a good idea to learn more about dementia care because you never know when the elderly will need your help. In this article, we will present 5 excellent dementia care tips.
Be patient
Dementia causes communication problems, making the elderly incapable of explaining what they actually need. This makes many people frustrated and annoyed. But, the fact is that it is possible to establish communication with dementia sufferers. Of course, in order to do this, you will need to be very patient and try to keep things slowed. Speak slowly, listen to what they have to say and keep an eye contact all the time.
Don’t use baby talk
While it is true that the elderly have memory problems, it is also true that in most cases they will understand you if you are talking slowly and clearly. Don’t use baby talk because this can make them more confused, not to mention that this looks and sounds disrespectful.
Be prepared
The fact is that this illness makes progress all the time. Sooner or later the situation will become worse, so be prepared for something like that.
Ask for help
You don’t have to be the only one taking care of your parent/s. Ask your relatives or friends to help you out.
Make a plan
Looking for professional help might be inevitable. If something like this happens, you should have a good plan. This means that it is the best idea to find some good home care services and calculate the amount of money you will need to pay for these services. Always look for agencies that have experience with dementia patients and good reputation.
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