The news that your aging loved one has dementia may unleash several negative emotions, including fear and anger. As you move forward with your parent’s care plan, use the following strategies to maintain a positive mindset.
1. Know That Your Feelings Are Normal
After receiving a dementia diagnosis, you and your loved one are likely to experience the same emotions. However, you may feel as though you must be strong for your parent’s sake. If you’re not prone to negative emotions, feeling hopeless or angry may cause you to feel guilty for not doing your best in the situation. In the event your emotions get in the way of your daily responsibilities, you should consult a professional counselor.
If you are the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality home care, Edmonton Home Care Assistance can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to changing the way seniors age.
2. Learn More About Dementia
A good defense against negativity is to dispel many of the myths that surround dementia. Although you may hear about seniors who need around-the-clock assistance, this tends to happen only in the later stages. During the early stages of dementia, your parent may be able to enjoy a healthy and independent life.
Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Edmonton Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
3. Initiate an Action Plan to Slow the Progression
Dementia symptoms are affected by physical health, and you can do many things to slow the progression of the disease. For example, regular exercise increases blood flow to the brain and boosts cognitive skills. While you can’t change the diagnosis, you can alter the prognosis by creating an action plan that focuses on your loved one’s health.
4. Find Healthy Ways to Vent Negativity
Caring for a loved one with dementia can be a challenging task, and there may be times when you’re suddenly overwhelmed by negative emotions. When this happens, find healthy ways to vent negative feelings. Reach out to a friend, jot down your thoughts in a journal, or go for a jog. Letting your negative emotions out stops them from manifesting in unhealthy ways such as arguing with your loved one.
5. Talk to Your Family About Future Care Needs
A dementia diagnosis tends to generate a sense of apprehension about the future. Get a grip on your anxiety by making a plan with your family members on how everyone can address your loved one’s future needs. For instance, you can work with a home caregiver to make sure your loved one is never home alone at night. Delegating your caregiving duties allows you to step back and focus on your emotional wellbeing.
Dementia is a serious health issue that can make it difficult for seniors to manage daily activities independently. Whether your elderly loved one needs part-time assistance with basic household chores or you need a break from your caregiving duties, the Edmonton respite care experts at Home Care Assistance are here to help. All of our respite care services are backed with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we never ask our clients to sign long-term contracts. To learn about our high-quality in-home care services, give us a call at (780) 490-7337 today.