lundi 22 juin 2015

Memory Care: How To Help A Loved One With Dementia

By Rue Nichols


For the millions of Americans living with dementia, Alzheimer's disease or other similar conditions, daily life can be filled with confusion, fear, depression and difficulty. Caregivers and loved ones also face huge challenges and it can be overwhelming to provide care and support. Still, there are some strategies to consider that can help make each day a bit easier for you and your loved one with dementia. Sometimes, the option of memory care at a facility for assisted living in San Diego can be your best choice.

Stress is something that many people do not handle well, and that is definitely the case if a person also has some kind of dementia. Many things can cause stress, such as crowded situations and lots of noise or trying to have a person accomplish too many tasks during the day. Keeping things simple and quiet can help. Remove clutter from the home and set things up so that it is easy for your loved one to find clothes, fix a snack or perhaps find the TV controls. It can help to write down a daily schedule for your loved one, so they remember various tasks and know how the day will go. When you opt for assisted living in San Diego, the day will be somewhat scheduled, as well, and apartments will be designed with memory care residents in mind.

While a person with dementia may no longer be able to work or handle stressful tasks, that doesn't mean they don't want to contribute to the family or the household. People want to be helpful, and there are plenty of important tasks that your loved one with dementia. Your loved one can help with dinner preparation, fold laundry, vacuum, dust, pulling weeds, raking leaves or grooming a pet. At a home for assisted living in San Diego, there will be daily activities such as sorting, art classes, games and more that can keep a person busy and engaged. Be sure to provide encouragement and to thank the person and express appreciation.

It's true that losing memories is very painful for both the person with dementia and his or her loved ones. Still, the most difficult aspect of dementia is often the changes in behavior. A person who previously was quite pleasant might become irritable or even very angry and sometimes even abusive with their loved ones. As unpleasant as this is, it's not atypical and some strategies often used at memory care facilities include using a quiet, calm voice when dealing with an issue. Changing the subject or providing a distraction also can help. Consider finding something pleasant to focus on, such as eating a meal or going for a walk or a drive.

One of the biggest reasons why families consider moving a loved one into a facility for assisted living in San Diego is safety. At home, a person with dementia might leave doors open, leave food cooking on the stove or perhaps wander far from home. In a memory care facility, a person is more secure and there is staff on hand 24 hours per day. This can bring great peace of mind for family members, and the staff is trained to interact with residents with dementia and severe memory loss.

If you do need to start looking for an assisted living facility that specializes in memory care, it is best to visit several facilities. Try to find one where the residents and the staff seem happy. Find a facility that offers activities that you think would be of interest to your loved one. An eldercare placement service can build a list of suitable facilities for you and your loved one to consider. Moving into assisted living can be hard and scary, so be sure to bring some favorite mementos from home and perhaps a favorite chair or a few other familiar pieces of furniture to make the new apartment seem a bit more like home.




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