Learning that your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia is sure to be a stressful experience, and one that can leave you feeling sad and helpless. There are plenty of resources to help you through this difficult time and our highly trained specialist dementia carers have shared the following advice to improve the quality of life for both your loved one and their family.
Caring for someone with dementia
Use visual aids to trigger memories in the home
Writing names on photographs can help to trigger visual recognition, and labelling or placing photos of the toilet on the bathroom door, and pots and pans on a cupboard will help your loved one to be more able around the home and retain some much valued independence.
Ensuring important names and phone numbers are written down and kept in a visible place (e.g. by the telephone or front door) can help ensure help is reachable should it be needed.
Maintain regular exercise and diet
Not only can regular physical activity and a healthy diet reduce the risk of cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s (1), it can also be instrumental to ensuring a good quality of life for those with dementia and could even slow the degeneration of the brain. David Lowery, a research psychologist at the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, assessed the impact of mild exercise on the symptoms of dementia and commented;
“Some of the theories are surrounding the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle, and things around stress, and perhaps blood flow to the brain….Stimulation itself could perhaps prevent the brain from degenerating, which is one of the key things with dementia.”
Take regular respite for your wellbeing
It’s hugely important that carers and family take regular respite to ensure they recover from the stresses and responsibility they take on each day. Utilising additional help such as specialist in home dementia carers, can provide invaluable support and reassurance, especially when carers have work commitments or holidays planned. Care away from home can often cause increased confusion for the person with dementia, both away and when they return so there is a strong argument to support the patient in their home as much as possible. In home carers can support with day to day tasks such as washing, pet care and food shopping as well as the more essential tasks such as bathing patients, and spending time one on one playing games to strengthen and stimulate their minds.
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