5 Simple Ways to Treat Dementia at Home

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Tips for Treating Dementia at Home in Edmonton, AB

A dementia diagnosis requires your family to sit down and make a care plan that ensures your aging loved one stays safe and makes lifestyle changes that slow the progression of the disease. The following tips can help you get started on treating your parent’s dementia at home.

1. Be Realistic as You Make a Care Plan

Close family members often want to do everything for their loved one. However, dementia care tends to get more challenging as the disease progresses. Eventually, your parent may need help with daily tasks and even overnight care. Since being fatigued or stressed increases your risk of burnout or losing your temper, it’s better to accept that you need help from others. Be honest with yourself about how much you can handle, and arrange for additional care. Having a few professional caregivers on your team could enhance your loved one’s wellbeing. 

If you’re 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. Establish a Medication Schedule

Dementia care may involve helping your loved one with taking medications, especially as memory loss and the risk for a mishap increases. Start now by setting up a schedule that includes tools such as a medication journal and pill organizers. You can also arrange for a caregiver to handle this task so you don’t feel overwhelmed by having to remember it all. 

If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of senior care Edmonton, AB, families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.

3. Prioritize Healthy Lifestyle Habits

Your loved one’s dementia may feel out of your control, but you can help him or her do things that slow the progression of the disease. Assess your parent’s current lifestyle to determine where changes could be made to increase blood flow to the brain and keep the mind active. For instance, your loved one may need to do some light exercise each day to remain active or socialize more often to retain his or her language abilities.

4. Know What Symptoms to Expect

There are several different types of dementia, and you should familiarize yourself with the symptoms and expected progression for each of these types. While most people expect memory loss or confusion, other symptoms may be surprising. For instance, your loved one may have tremors, hallucinations, or fainting spells. Knowing that these symptoms are a possibility may help you stay calm and prepare an effective caregiving strategy to address these issues as they arise.

5. Develop a Daily Routine

Routines can be a lifesaver for both you and your loved one. You’ll benefit from easily remembering what needs to be done next, and your parent may be more likely to comply with normal parts of the day, such as bathing or getting ready for bed, when he or she understands what is going to happen next. If you share caregiving duties with someone else, make sure you stick to similar schedules so your loved one benefits from continuity.

Caring for a senior with dementia can be challenging for family caregivers. Luckily, there is dementia care Edmonton families can rely on. Professional dementia caregivers help seniors with dementia stay safe and comfortable at home by preventing wandering, providing cognitive stimulation, and assisting with household chores. If your aging parent needs high-quality in-home care, call Home Care Assistance at (780) 490-7337 today.  

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