You and your senior might have worried that there was something wrong, but still, a diagnosis of dementia can throw you both for a loop. Here are some things to consider as a caregiver to someone with dementia.
Make Sure You Understand Her Diagnosis
A dementia diagnosis covers a lot of ground. There are no two cases that are exactly alike, even though they may share similarities. Talk with your senior’s doctors about what you need to know and about how this diagnosis is likely to affect your senior and the rest of her life. From there, you and your elderly family member can work on a plan together.
Develop a Plan with Your Senior
Assuming your elderly family member is still in the beginning stages of dementia, talk to her about what she wants. Emphasize to her that you want to work with her, not against her, as you care for her. Determine where she’s having trouble now and have the tough talks now about things like managing her finances and driving. Waiting to have those talks won’t do you any favors.
Be Careful How Quickly You Take Charge
Something you do want to be careful with is how quickly you step in and take charge of certain situations. Your senior may start to feel as if her diagnosis is causing her to lose whatever independence she had left. Reassure her that you only want to help her, not create more issues for her.
Learn as Much as You Can
There’s so much for you to learn as your senior’s caregiver. Joining support groups for caregivers of dementia patients can teach you so much more than you might expect and you’ll meet other caregivers dealing with the same things you’re dealing with daily. Hiring home care providers who are experienced with dementia care can also help you to shorten your learning curve.
Keep Your Senior Socially Active
Something else to consider is that your elderly family member might become self-conscious about her diagnosis, which can lead to isolation. Encourage other family members, friends, and neighbors to continue to visit your senior. Senior groups made up of other dementia patients can also be a helpful way for your elderly family member to interact with other people.
When you know more about what your elderly family member wants in the future it’s going to be a lot easier for you to care for her, even as her dementia worsens. Keep your senior involved in the major decisions that affect her, even if you worry that she’s not able to participate as much as she did in the past.
For more information about hiring Home Health Care in La Costa, CA, call the friendly caregivers at La Jolla Nurses Homecare who can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, at 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable senior care in La Jolla, CA, and the surrounding communities.
Today we are the oldest and most experienced private duty agency in San Diego County.She saw a need for quality private duty home health care and she worked diligently to build an agency that filled that need.I am proud to say, her vision is carried on today with our dedicated staff.
I believe our tenure in the community speaks well for us.We have had the opportunity to be of service to countless interesting individuals, including local and worldwide celebrities.It is the people we care for that makes this a fascinating industry.Whether high profile or a more ordinary citizen, we are proud that thousands have entrusted us with their care or the care of their loved ones.Our Mission is to provide high quality, very secure and the most compassionate home health care.We believe that patients heal faster and are happiest when they can stay in their homes.”
- Four Providers Who Ease the Stress of Caring for a Chronically Ill Loved One - October 29, 2024
- Therapies Seniors May Need After a Stroke - October 22, 2024
- Keeping Psoriatic Arthritis from Triggering Other Issues - October 15, 2024
