Dementia is a brain disorder that affects how a normal person thinks, interacts, and behaves. Young people are unlikely to be affected by the disease. People regard it as a normal occurrence for certain adults over a certain age range. If your loved one is between the ages of 65 and 85, or possibly older, this is a common occurrence. There is no need to panic in this situation.
Caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease, on the other hand, can be taxing and emotionally draining. One person may be afflicted with the disease, but almost every member of the family is affected. That is why many people are terrified of the disease.
People living with Alzheimer’s dementia require care from health care providers as well as those who are constantly around them. That is why their loved ones must learn about Alzheimer’s dementia in order to care for them. This article will provide some pointers on how to care for someone who has dementia. More information is provided below.
Ten Ways to Assist an Alzheimer’s Patient
1. Be Positive
Normal people react in the same way that people with dementia do to the mood you project. They may have mental illnesses, but they can see your facial expressions. It sends a positive or negative message to them depending on your current facial expression. They can hear your voice and determine whether it’s harsh or soft. So keep this in mind if a loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s.
2. Draw Their Attention
When you speak to them, they want to feel your presence. You won’t be able to accomplish this if something is distracting them. One thing you can do is remove or turn off all forms of distraction, such as television or background noise. Instead, maintain constant eye or body contact with them to keep them focused on you (touch).
3. Make Your Points Clearly
Most of the time, people who have this problem do not understand statements all at once. Using abbreviations or pronouns may aggravate the situation. They expect you to speak in simple terms that they can understand. If they ask you to repeat yourself, it doesn’t mean they can’t hear you, so you don’t need to raise your voice. Maintain your cool and repeat the same words.
4. Pose Simple-to-Answer Questions
Long-answer questions make it nearly impossible for them to respond. To ensure better interactions with a loved one who has this brain disorder, ask only simple questions. If you want to make things easier, you can represent your questions with signs or images. You can also rephrase the questions to get a yes or no response.
5. Keep an Eye Out
Their reactions and body language are sometimes their responses to your questions. Keep an eye out for these movements and respond positively to them.
6. Consistency
Doing things in a specific way can help people with Alzheimer’s dementia become accustomed to you and their surroundings. You can, for example, keep certain routines at home to make things easier to understand and follow.
7. Maintain a Calm Environment
An uncomfortable environment can cause people living with dementia to worry and be anxious at times. When you keep the environment calm, you can contribute to their comfort. You might wonder how you can keep the environment calm. Eliminating noises and excessive brightness is one way to accomplish this.
8. Check Your Nutrition
Nutrition should be one of your top priorities if you are in charge of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease. People suffering from this illness should eat more frequently. You should also look into how frequently they use water. Working according to body weight, a minimum of 1.5kg and a maximum of 2.5kg of water per day is sufficient.
9. Positive Confirmation
Your presence is extremely important to them. If you are unable to see them for any reason, always assure them that your absence is due to their safety. Encouragement works well in situations like this. Encouragement may come in the form of how long you will be gone and what you will most likely get for them. This will put them at ease during your absence.
10. Stay Away From Violence
People with this problem can become violent and endanger themselves and others. At this point, changing your location is the best course of action. Remember to remove any potentially hazardous items from their surroundings before leaving their company.
Conclusion
One area in which you must improve is your relationship with people who have Alzheimer’s disease. Essentially, you must devise a method of communicating with them that does not add to their confusion. This is what distinguishes your relationship from that of ordinary people. We hope these ten tips add to your knowledge and help you in your efforts to care for a loved one.
