In-Home Dementia Care Guide

First, we know that dementia is not a specific disease but rather a condition characterized by a group of symptoms that result in the impairment of brain functions like memory and judgment.

With a wide range of symptoms that include forgetfulness, impaired thinking, and faltering social skills, dementia has become an increasingly common and difficult condition to manage. Even though some root causes of dementia can be reversed, most issues come from more specific diseases like Alzheimer’s with an extremely limited range of treatment and no discovered cure

Even with a limited range of treatment options, dementia care can still have a long list of little victories.

Cognitive medication and self-care treatments can go a long way to preserve you and your loved one’s way of life for years to come. Studies show that moving treatment into the home can help create a safe and familiar environment, greatly improving the patient’s safety and independence.

A wide range of conditions affecting seniors can make them more prone to falls.

For example, movement and balance issues make any terrain more difficult and create a greater risk of falling no matter the age. Additionally, sensory factors such as problems with eyesight, hearing, or touch can harm a senior’s ability to properly perceive and interact with the environment around them.

This decrease in spatial awareness can easily lead to opportunities for falls to occur.

Providing in-home care for your loved one can take several different forms, and as symptoms grow more complex, the care process can become much more involved.

In the early stages of treatment, in-home care will usually consist of basic assistance for daily tasks and chores, like cleaning, cooking, or going to the grocery store. To help increase independence for the senior at this stage, it may also be good to start setting up the in-home environment for success and safety.

Simple steps like straightening up and removing hazards can help prevent in-home falls. Engaging in stimulating activities and spending time talking about current events can help keep dementia patients as sharp as they can be.

When it becomes time for a more intensive care plan, it is best to consult your healthcare provider to determine the next steps. There are a lot of ways you can help, so here are a few things to consider asking your doctor about:

1. Communication

   What are the best ways to talk to your loved one? How can you support and stimulate them as things get more difficult?

2. Hygiene and appearance

   Take some time to consider how dressing and grooming may add a familiar routine to the life of your loved one.

3. Keeping calm and oriented

   Dementia brings a lot of frustrating changes to a person’s life, so ask your doctor how you can help keep things under control!

4. Memory loss

   This is one of the most important things to keep track of as dementia progresses. Ask your doctor for additional ideas about how to keep your loved one sharp.

5. Managing behavior and sleep issues

   A normal routine can quickly be thrown aside as symptoms progress, making sleep patterns difficult to uphold and positive behavior hard to maintain.

In-home care is a great option for many patients, and it is especially helpful for those in the early and middle stages of dementia, where some level of independence can still be maintained. 

By far the greatest value that in-home care can provide is the benefit of keeping your loved one at home for as long as possible. Many dementia care facilities, like assisted living facilities or memory care units, can be incredibly disorienting and bring an earlier onset of more severe symptoms. Familiar environments, like the home, provide comfort and security for your ailing loved one while also generating greater peace of mind for the entire family.

In-home care can still be maintained, even as early dementia progresses towards more moderate symptoms. Hiring an in-home caregiver can keep a high level of care while also lessening the burden on the family. 

Companies like Westchester Family Care that provide caregivers specifically for dementia patients usually offer a wide range of care options depending on the patient’s needs. Care levels range from basic assistance with tasks and chores like laundry and groceries, all the way up to live-in care for patients with more advanced symptoms and challenging behaviors.

Ask your doctor about the potential need for a caregiver and the positive difference they can make at home!

Promoting self-care and independence in dementia patients is a crucial part of boosting self-worth, especially in the early stages of the condition.

While not every in-home task is manageable by every patient, most caregivers and family members should recognize that there is still a lot their loved one can do for themselves. Maintaining independence and responsibility improves their quality of life and sense of self-reliance.

Here are several ideas that may cultivate a new level of independence in your patient or loved one’s life:

1. Introduce helpful home safety improvements

   Adding safety elements to the home—brighter lighting, handrails, a shower chair, or larger text on clocks and other appliances—can greatly improve a senior’s ability to interact with the space around them. This fresh spin on a familiar environment can allow the patient to make better use of the space around them, effectively making the home safer for longer.

2. Make getting dressed easier to handle

   Dementia can cause the loss of ability to perform once-familiar tasks, like dressing. This can often be very frustrating and embarrassing, so look for wardrobe options that make dressing easier. For example, velcro-fastened shoes or pants with elastic waistbands are much more manageable, even for seniors with limited dexterity.

3. Establish a routine

   Establishing a routine for normal activities like bathing, eating, and sleeping can instill a renewed sense of purpose, that reduces anxiety in dementia patients. In a time when familiar things fade into obscurity, a regular schedule provides a framework where dementia patients can thrive.

4. Write out schedules

   Similar to the last tip, maintaining a calendar for doctor’s appointments, caregiver visits, meal times, and more can keep a senior on top of their tasks. While there are a wide variety of methods to employ here, using a large, easy-to-read calendar is an effective way to have the schedule accessible in the home. If your loved one is still comfortable with technology, consider a digital calendar that uses alerts and sounds to better help notify them of their schedule.
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5. Encourage exercise

   Getting up and out every day can promote better flexibility and increase muscle strength for seniors. While there’s no direct linkage between exercise and the reduction of dementia symptoms, an active lifestyle can promote the health and happiness of any senior, better equipping them to manage daily life events.

6. Invite help around the house

   While a senior may not always be equipped to prepare a full meal or clean the whole house, performing small tasks in the company of others is not only a positive social experience but also helps build a better sense of independence.