How to Care for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s in Memory Care
Taking care of your senior loved one is a way of showing gratitude, affection and love. A sincere way is to whole-heartedly and warmly accept the shift in their behaviour, especially when they are dealing with a severe cognitive issue, such as Alzheimer or dementia.
According to a report by the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 7 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Caring for someone with dementia is a full-time responsibility which is often very challenging to fulfill alongside managing your career and other responsibilities.
However, if your senior loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, here are some ways you can still look after them in memory care.
7 Ways You Can Care for Your Loved One with Alzheimer’s in Memory Care
1. Learn More About Cognitive Decline and Dementia
As a family caregiver, it’s important for you to understand the symptoms and challenges of Alzheimer’s or dementia. If not taken care of, their cognitive functions can further decline exponentially, causing them to emotionally and physically struggle to maintain their quality of life.
As older adults age and their cognitive abilities decline, they get easily agitated and anxious over things that you wouldn’t normally notice. For instance, you might leave the lights off at night, but that can agitate your senior loved one and make them feel anxious.
Moreover, they may aggressively refuse care and assistance with bathing and dressing if they even slightly feel uncomfortable.
2. Be Patient
Older adults with dementia are hypersensitive to their surroundings, so it’s important for you to take care of your loved one without losing the cool. However, it won’t be easy all the time. Sometimes you will feel overwhelmed, other times sadness and grief will take over you.
Moreover, your senior loved one may repeat one thing again and again, and answering them repeatedly can exhaust you. However, all these emotions are natural and part of your journey. Even though it’s not a one person’s job, being patient with their cognitive and functional decline is the most important thing you can do for their emotional well-being.
3. Focus On Communication
As life stands at the beginning of an end, it starts slowing down. Your senior loved one may lack a listener or a chatter. They feel loved when someone is beside them listening to their stories and providing them a comfortable space for discussions even if most of the things they say don’t make sense. But even if most of the things they say don’t add up, it’s important for you to not correct them. Instead patiently offer them an ear to listen.
4. Interesting Activities
Engaging your senior loved one with interesting activities and encouraging them to be productive even if it means folding clothes and combing hair can improve their mental well-being. Moreover, it can help slow down their cognitive decline.
However, when adding physical and mental activities into their daily routine, make sure they consistently follow the same routine. Even a slight change in their daily schedule can make them feel agitated and anxious with their surroundings.
5. Fulfillment of the Basic Needs
Older adults with dementia struggle to take care of themselves, including their hygiene, diet, and physical health. If they are left on their own, their overall health will deteriorate and significantly affect their quality of life.
Fulfillment of basic needs is really essential for the brain health and wellbeing of a human. Their daily diet needs to be healthy, consisting of nutrients for the brain. Moreover, they should have someone to look after their hygiene.
6. Visit Them Regularly
A family presence is often one of the most important things that make older adults happy. However, if your loved one is struggling with cognitive decline, they might start to forget about the love you have for them, which is one of the hardest feelings to process.
Even if they don’t recognize you, it’s important to visit your senior loved one at least once a week, depending on the closeness of your relationship. Sometimes they recognize you and sometimes they don’t. However, you can still cherish every moment with them by visiting them regularly.
7. Cherish the old memories together
During middle-age Alzheimer’s, damage occurs in areas of the brain that control language, reasoning, sensory processing, and conscious thought. People at this stage may have more confusion and trouble recognizing family and friends.
The best way to enjoy time with your loved one is to cherish the old memories together. This is how they can connect to you, which will make them happy and vent down their worries.
Worried About Your Loved One’s Declining Health Due to Alzheimer’s or Dementia? Schedule a Visit of Lynridge of San Antonio Memory Care
Alzheimer’s or dementia is a severe cognitive dysfunction. If your senior loved one is experiencing cognitive decline, it’s important to give them 24/7 care before their condition further worsens.
However, we understand that taking care of someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s is extremely difficult, especially when you have other responsibilities to juggle. That’s where Lynridge of San Antonio Memory Care comes in.
Here at Lynridge of San Antonio, we offer a range of services, including medication management, 24/7 on-site and on-call nursing, and specialized care associates who will assist your loved one with their daily activities of living.
Want to learn more about how we can help your loved one? Schedule a visit to Lynridge of San Antonio Memory Care today.
