If you are thinking about in-home care for someone who is suffering from dementia there are a few things you should consider. Each person who suffers from dementia will experience dementia in different ways and so their care needs will vary from case to case. The care for someone suffering from dementia can range from helping with finances and coping with behavioral changes to helping them get dressed or prepare meals to anything in-between.
Because the care required can be very diverse and can change frequently it is important that whoever is giving the care (whether it is a relative or health care professional) is prepared to deal with whatever may come up. Here are a few things to be aware of as you measure up the ability of the potential in-home care provider.
Daily Care
It is important that a daily schedule is kept that includes a range of daily activities. Daily activities help give structure to the day, improve the patient’s dignity and self-esteem and give meaning. Daily activities should include basic things such as getting dressed, dental care, eating etc. However, they should also include other things such as reading the newspaper, doing crosswords, listening to music, walking any other activities the patient might enjoy. All these activities should be written out in a daily plan or schedule that can be referred to and followed on a daily basis.
Some other daily care issues to keep in mind are communication, bathing, incontinence and depression. These are all issues that the care giver will have to be prepared to deal with as the patient will struggle with each of these things at some time or another or all at once.
Behaviors
The in-home caregiver should also be aware and ready to cope with behavioral changes in the patient. These changes can range from small to drastic and may include aggression, agitation, confusion, hallucination, repetition, sleeplessness, suspicion and wandering just to list a few. These behavioral changes must be dealt with in a caring non-confrontational way. For example, arguing with someone who has dementia about the reality of a hallucination or suspicion will more often than not only result in further agitation and frustration. The reality of the hallucination isn’t as important as the effect it has on the patient.
Relationship Changes
Another thing to be aware of, especially if the caregiver is a family member to the patient, is that the relationship between the caregiver and the patient will change as the dementia worsens Stress, anger, guilt and depression are just some of the emotions that the caregiver is likely to experience will administering care as an in-home caregiver. . It is just as important that the caregiver has a good support system in place as it is that the patient gets the care and attention they need.
Sources:
Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org
Alice Dembner, The Boston Globe, “Right move, right time,” www.boston.com/yourlife/health/aging/articles/2006/08/07/right_move_right_time/