Dementia is challenging for the person with dementia and their family members. It can also cause changes in your loved one’s behavior and mood.

Understanding the symptoms and behaviors of dementia can help you provide adequate care at home. It can also ease your stress and make caring for your loved one more manageable.

Understand the Symptoms

When someone you care for is diagnosed with dementia, they often have many new and different symptoms. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, including memory problems, mood changes, and physical problems.

They can also become confused, irritable, and tearful. They may also lose their sense of time, such as getting lost in familiar areas and forgetting appointments or social events.

These behaviors indicate that their brain is not functioning well, but they can also indicate something wrong, like dehydration, a urinary tract infection, or depression.

Share all relevant information with your care provider to help you care for your loved one. They will better understand the person’s needs and can provide a more thorough care plan.

Ask for Help

If you’re caring for a person with dementia at home, like in at home dementia nursing Napa CA, ensuring you’re getting enough support is essential. Caregivers often suffer from increased stress, depression, and burnout as their loved ones’ abilities decline.

Whether through family, friends, or home care providers, you must ask for help when needed. This can include assistance with completing tasks or activities, assisting with safety concerns, or making other arrangements for your loved one.

For example, if your loved one has difficulty walking and tends to fall, it’s essential to ensure they have safe and accessible routes around the home. Mark stairs with colored duct tape to make them easier to spot and secure throw rugs to floors to avoid slips or falls.

Be Prepared for Changes

When your loved one’s dementia care needs change, you may need to find new ways to meet them. Learning about health care options, finances, long-term care, and end-of-life decisions would be best.

Your loved one’s behavior and personality will also change as they progress through the disease. For example, they may need clarification or help to find words.

These changes can be distressing for both you and your loved one, but there are things you can do to help minimize the impact.

For instance, you can schedule visitors and social events at times that your loved one is comfortable with. You can also plan activities that are meaningful to your loved one.

Be Honest About Your Needs

If you are the care partner of a person with dementia, you must be honest about your needs. If you are not, you can end up experiencing more significant health problems, financial strains, and caregiver burnout.

Dementia is a complicated disease that affects each individual differently. Keeping this in mind can help you provide effective dementia care at home.

Caring for someone with dementia requires a comprehensive and family-centered approach to managing the disease’s medical, social, emotional, physical, behavioral, and financial challenges. It also requires the support of other family members, friends, and co-caregivers.

Take Care of Yourself

Caring for your loved one with dementia is an arduous, stressful task that can quickly deplete your energy levels and lead to burnout. Taking time to provide yourself with adequate physical and emotional support is critical to delivering effective dementia care at home.

Establish a routine for daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, eating, and taking medications. This will help them feel more comfortable with you and reduce the likelihood of accidents or falls.

Try to dress your loved one in loose-fitting, comfortable clothing with easy zippers or snaps. Limit the number of buttons and buckles, as these can increase confusion and frustration.

Keep the home clean and tidy, eliminating clutter that can distract and overstimulate your loved one. Clear away small rugs, electrical cords, and other items that can be trip hazards.