It’s common for dementia caregivers to become frustrated, but this negative emotion can have serious consequences. As dementia progresses, your aging parent may find it difficult to control his or her behavior. Here are a few things you should bear in mind when caring for a loved one with dementia.
Accept Your Best
Blaming yourself for things that are beyond your control could cause unnecessary stress. Taking blame for a negative occurrence that isn’t your fault may lead to self-doubt and depression. Realize your loved one will have good and bad days, and continue to do your best. Maintaining adaptability can eliminate negative emotions such as guilt, regret, fear, and sadness.
If your elderly loved one is living with a serious medical condition and needs help managing the tasks of daily living, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a home care service agency you can trust. Our caregivers are available 24/7, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our in-home care services.
Develop Effective Communication Techniques
Communicating with your loved one may become challenging as dementia progresses, but there are ways you can make communication less frustrating. For example, asking repetitive questions is normal for aging adults with dementia. However, you can distract and deflect your loved one during these times. When your loved one asks a question more than once, distract him or her with a fun activity, and then deflect his or her attention by changing the subject. If you become agitated, your loved one might mimic your behavior and respond negatively.
Take Care of Yourself
Providing care to seniors with dementia can be emotionally and mentally draining, which is why you need to find ways to handle the emotional side of caregiving. Caring for yourself includes resting, being social, and doing things that bring you joy.
Focusing on your needs can prevent burnout. After getting some downtime, you can resume your caregiving duties with a clear mind. A positive environment can ease disorientation, hallucinations, sleeping disorders, wandering, and other symptoms of dementia.
Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Families looking for top-rated Arlington home care providers can reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care. From respite care to specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care, there are many ways we can make life easier for seniors and their loved ones.
Seek Outside Help
Many dementia caregivers try to do everything on their own because they don’t want other people to see their loved ones facing memory loss, behavior issues, or the inability to speak correctly. As a result, many caregivers take on the role without getting the assistance they need.
Failing to accept outside help could cause you to develop serious physical and mental health issues. It’s okay to allow others to step in from time to time. To ease your fears, hire professional caregivers who specialize in dementia care. These caregivers can provide you with breaks as well as tips to make dementia caregiving easier for your entire family.
Caring for seniors with dementia can be challenging for family caregivers. Luckily, there is dementia care Arlington 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. Call Assisting Hands Home Care to learn more about our flexible and customizable senior care plans.
