Caring For A Loved One With Dementia

Here at Shannon Funeral Home and Cremation Services, we value the feedback of our community. We would like to personally thank Samantha for this incredible Alzheimer’s & Dementia resource. As a student at Learning Haven. As part of their curriculum, they are teaching students how to effectively complete web research around various topics that they are passionate about. Senior care has been one of our current topics, and they are teaching students about social & moral development in society and how they should provide support for seniors with geriatric conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

One of the hardest illnesses to deal with is dementia. Your loved one is there, but they aren’t there is the same time. You might think about the future and their eventual need for cremation services in Ellenton, FL at times. Other times, you are just doing your best to care for them with love and make it through the day. Here are some tips that can help you to give your loved one the best possible care.

Don’t Argue

Your loved one’s mind isn’t working right. There will be times when they know that. But when they are argumentative, arguing with them isn’t going to do either of you any good. It could actually agitate them and send things down the wrong path. Try to change the subject or just let them have their way into the conversation for now.

Allow Them Independence

While your family member may not be able to do everything on their own anymore, you are going to want to allow them as much independence as you can. Help them to lay their clothing out, for example, and then leave them to dress. Ask them what they want for lunch or provide them with options so they can make choices. What you can allow them for independence will shift and change, but they need a sense of self and that means caring for things on their own at times.

Create A Safe Home

If your loved one is in your home all of the time, or on special occasions, you are going to want to make sure your home is as safe as possible. Pull up any rugs that they might trip on, for example, and have chairs available that are easy to get back out of. Consider grab bars in the bathroom so there aren’t falls there, too.

Set Up A Routine

Your loved one is going to thrive on a routine. It can help you to keep order and whether they are lucid or not, having a routine can help their body make its way through the day. Perhaps set a time to get up and one to go to bed. Have the meals at a regular time and set certain days for showers and baths. If there’s a TV show they like, watch it at the same time every day or every week, and so on. The routine can really help everyone keep things regular and it makes keeping up with meds simple as well.

Care For Yourself

When you are caring for a loved one with dementia, your concerns might be on them. But you are going to have to take good care of yourself as well or you won’t be any good to them.

Consider Setting Up Cremation In Lucid Times

When your loved one is lucid, you might want to discuss important items, like their future need for cremation services in Ellenton, FL. Find out what they want so you are prepared for that time when it comes. Contact us and start making arrangements.