What Can You Do to Make Life Easier for a Loved One with Dementia?
Elderly Care in Clark County VA: What Can You Do to Make Life Easier for a Loved One with Dementia?
Finding out that your elderly loved one has dementia can throw both you and her for a bit of a loop. As her family caregiver, there are some things that you can do right away to help make life a little bit easier for her.
Focus on What’s Going On
If you try to stray too far from what’s going on right now, you can get all caught up in what your expected outcome is. That can lead to trouble because expectations aren’t helpful when your loved one is dealing with something as unpredictable as dementia. Enjoy where you and your loved one are right now and what you can do today to make it as good as it can be.
Try Not to Do Too Much for Your Loved One
Many caregivers assume that once their loved one is diagnosed with dementia that means that they can’t really do a lot on their own anymore. That couldn’t be further from the truth. There’s quite a bit that your loved one can still do. If you try to take over too much, that can erode her own self-confidence and leave her more dependent than she has to be.
Safety Is a Top Priority
The one area where you do need to spend a lot of your time and energy focusing is on safety for your elderly loved one. This covers a lot of ground, from having a physically safe environment with hand rails to having the support of other family members and elderly care providers available. Every bit adds up to a safer environment for your loved one.
Allow Her Some Dignity
It’s really easy to start talking down to your loved one or to try to fight back with her when she’s trying to do things you think that she shouldn’t. Do your best to allow her to maintain her dignity, however. Remember that she’s an adult who is dealing with a medical condition that affects her brain. Some days are going to be easier than others, but this is important.
Work closely with your loved one’s doctor and other members of her medical team to adjust your plans as necessary to keep meeting her needs.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a professional elderly care in Clark County, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Call Us Today at (703) 634-9991. Serving Northern Virginia, The Valley, and Surrounding Communities
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