Tips for Caregivers of Dementia Patients

When you are called upon to care for a person with Alzheimer's disease or some other form of dementia, you must bring two key qualities with you to the task. One is a positive attitude and the other is patience.  For many caregivers, this is their opportunity to lovingly give back to someone who is important to them.  For others, for whom their relationship with the patient has been problematic or hurtful in the past, it may be particularly trying to offer empathy and kindness during patient care so a great support system will be vital for them.

Caregiving for Dementia Patients

Receiving the diagnosis of Alzheimer's may be harder on you than your loved one as time goes on. As their condition progresses, it may be necessary to gently remind the person that they have Alzheimer's as they question why you will not allow them to do things they used to do themselves (cook while alone, drive and use power tools, for example).  Simply refer to the person's "memory problems" as the source of the changes. Be prepared to patiently repeat something you have already said again and again, as the person will not remember it.

Learning to communicate both verbally and non-verbally is critical. Your positive attitude is vital as dementia patients are very able to read and respond to body language, positive or negative. Let the person know you heard their question and answer it, even if it has been asked three times already. That is the nature of the disease. If a request is irrational or inappropriate, do not argue or try to change their viewpoint, but gently redirect to a more appropriate way or topic. Offer lots of love and affection, if this has been natural in your relationship. Otherwise, be patient. Be positive in responding to the patient.

As the disease progresses, a person in senior care with dementia needs certain behaviors from their caregivers. These include:

• Respecting their worth and needs as a person: love, human contact, gentle touches, being spoken to-just as a baby responds to a caregiver, so too will a dementia patient. If treated poorly, they feel grief, rejection and emotional pain.
• Accepting their declining capabilities: Remain patient, calm and supportive while having flexibility in your care plan.
• Managing behavior problems: Aggressiveness, forgetfulness and wandering are symptoms of the disease and not to be taken as personal attacks against you. Medication may be of assistance in some cases.
• Accepting that this is harder on you than it is on them: You are fully aware of the person's declining condition. Mercifully, they are not.
• Having a steady caregiver: Seek a support group and/or supportive friends to help you through this time of grief and strain. Take time out and have home care help for a day or two each week to allow you to recharge yourself for your own well-being.

Above all, practice maintaining your patience when offering a dementia sufferer senior care at home.  The dementia patient is not aware of their memory loss or how it is affecting you, so be prepared for repeat behaviors. Always remember that they can still respond to your smiles and touch.