Dementia over time will get worse, and the difficult behaviors that are associated with it, these behaviors can be very difficult to deal with and extremely stressful, a dementia care plan is a good idea.
Your loved ones’ level of care will increase as the desire progresses with the 7 stages of dementia, it is important to take the steps to make their life as safe and as healthy as possible, s it is important to plan ahead.
Educating yourself about the symptoms, and the level of care that you will need to provide throughout all the stages of dementia, and developing a dementia care plan, can help you and your loved one.
Knowing as much as you can about dementia and Alzheimer’s, can help you understand how your loved ones’ life is going to change, you can find out more information from the Alzheimers Association And Dementia.
If your loved one is a heavy drinker, alcohol can cause dementia, there is alcohol-induced dementia, so it is important to look out for it
Early Stages of Dementia Plan
It may be difficult to know exactly how much care your loved one will need during the early stages of dementia, as they can probably function independently still, but dementia care costs more than assisted living, as the level of care is greater.
During the early stages of dementia, they may still be able to do their daily activities, but it is important to have a dementia care plan in place because handling their finances, and more difficult cognitive things will be more difficult.
During the beginning stages of dementia, most people can function independently. Your loved one may be able to do many of the activities they’ve always done, such as driving, volunteering, and attending social events.
Emotional Support
Offering emotional support to a loved one that has early dementia, is vital, depression is a factor in dementia, and it will be important to observe them and discuss it with their doctor.
Finding a psychologist who specializes in dementia, if your parent is in denial about the diagnosis of dementia, hearing this news affects people in different ways, and it is important for them to understand that they are ill.
There are online support groups that can help, sometimes it is helpful for them to speak with people who are going through the same thing as them.
Daily Routine
Creating a daily routine that is easy for them to follow is important, routines reduce anxiety for people with dementia.
Set up their pillboxes to help them to remember to take their medication, making it easy for them to access their medication, and set up reminders for them.
Finance and Legal Advice
Help your loved ones with their finances, and make sure that all of the bills are getting paid on time. Also, locate important documents, and place them in a safe place, so that you know where they are.
It is a good idea to hire an Elder attorney, this will help you to prepare your parent’s legal and financial situation so that everything can be organized. make sure all living wills and trusts are set up correctly.
Home Safety
Prepare your parent’s home, so that it is safe for them, making sure that all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working. Make sure the kitchen is safe for them, a good idea is to install automatic shut-off valves on the oven and stove.
Make sure there are no trip hazards, rugs, cords, steps, handrails, and grab bars in the bathrooms. Also getting a medical alert system is another way to protect them.
GPS trackers are a good idea, so if they get lost from Wandering, they can be found, also consider a medical ID bracelet.
Middle Stage For Dementia Care
As your loved ones’ dementia progresses, your dementia care plan becomes more important, your parent’s cognitive skills will decline and they will need help with their daily activities, such as eating, bathing, toileting, and dressing.
During the middle stage of dementia, difficult behaviors become more frequent, aggression, wandering, and sleep issues will become more difficult, so it is important to manage these behaviors.
These mental health conditions may experience depression, anxiety, disorientation, and become more aggressive when the sun goes down, this is called Sundown Syndrome.
Of cause as their dementia progresses, they should not drive, also their communication skills will dwindle. Also, it is important to watch for their personal hygiene, as bathing will become a problem.
Additional Middle Stage Dementia Care Options
Seniors with middle-stage dementia will need additional care, it is important to evaluate who is taking care of them, and do they need some additional help.
You might want to consider in-home care services, which will provide the care your loved one needs. in-home care services usually take care of bathing, dressing bathing, tilting, and also meals.
Respite care will give you or the caregiver a chance to take a break. Respite care will help with medication management as well as all daily activities.
You could also consider entering your loved one into a memory care home, these communities are catered to seniors with dementia.
Memory care facilities will provide a safe environment, establish routines, and have plenty of memory care activities to maintain their cognitive skills.
Senior Living Dementia Care Plans
If you decide on a memory care facility, an evaluation will be done when your loved one first enters the facility they will do an evaluation on their cognitive health, their mobility, and their ability to perform their daily activities.
During the evaluation family members or caregivers, will fill in the gaps of information regarding their likes, dislikes, diet, and any preference that they might have.
When the facility does the evaluation it will help them to determine their senior health plan, and develop their dementia care plan.
As your loved ones’ dementia progresses their dementia care plan will change, there are activities to slow down dementia, be sure in the memory care facility that they will review the dementia care plan, so your loved one will get the dementia care that they need.
Late-Stage Dementia Care
With late-stage dementia, it is not safe for your loved one to live at home, as the symptoms continue and the disease progresses, they will need around-the-clock care.
With late-stage dementia your loved one might have difficulty eating or swallowing, they may not be able to talk or even communicate, they will no longer be able to walk, even with a walker, and their overall health is at greater risk for infections.
With late-stage dementia, this is a very difficult time, and hospice care can be used, hospice is designed to keep your loved one as comfortable as possible.
Hospice can be done at home or in an assisted living facility, it is designed to only make your loved one comfortable.
Here is Loving Assisted Living we are here to help you if you are looking for a memory care facility, we will take the guesswork out of choosing the best facility for your loved one, and provide them with the best care possible.