Sunday 10 November 2013

Alzheimer's And Dealing With Dementia

By Jack Morgan


Dementia is a condition that causes changes in the brain. It slowly develops over time. To be diagnosed with dementia doesn't mean you are done. It means your life will be different. Make your life easy to cope with by sticking to these great strategies when dealing with dementia.

Once one is diagnosed with dementia, there are series stages that will occur before the disease becomes full blown. There are various ways that can help both the affected and their loved ones to deal with dementia. The following are some of the best ways to deal with dementia, which have been tried and tested.

Since the symptoms of dementia include hallucinations, confusions and lack of understanding, you should keep the patient's living environment safe. Safety tips include; keeping the house clean and clutter free from objects, such as wires or rugs; installing handrails near the stairs or in bathrooms to prevent a fall; and using non-slippery mats in the bathrooms.

You need to be extremely careful and patient when communicating with a dementia patient. Remember that this condition affects the communicating and learning abilities of the patient which makes it difficult for them to express themselves or understand you. Don't talk to them like a small child, but try to be as simple as possible.

Restructuring is a must when it comes to dealing with dementia. One has to ensure the set up of the home or facility is a safe environment in regards to the behaviour of the patient. For instance, if the affected person tends to regularly disassemble items, then one has to place safe and non-essential items in the immediate environment of the person. This will ensure the safety of the person. One has to set up the house with the consideration that there is a person in the house with special needs who does absorb and process information like a regular healthy person.

Include music, massage as well as reading time to relax yourself. Read aloud from your favorite book or play music. If you become irritated, have a range of activities to do. Taking a walk, looking through photos, and preparing a snack are nice activities.

Most seniors with dementia enjoy doing activities similar to their hobbies. For example, if the patient has always enjoyed cooking, allow them to do small cooking tasks in the kitchen such as washing the vegetable, tossing the salad, wiping the spoons and so on.

Always ask for help. It is very important. Family members and friends might not know the way you feel at times. Get them involved and you will find it easier to cope with this situation. Elder care services can also provide you help. Visiting nurses offer needed services. Insurance might cover some of your cost. Ensure your finances are in order. Appoint an individual as a health care proxy since you will need one at some point. Make sure this person understands well your health care needs. Remember that the internet offers several online support groups. You can even pick a support group in your region.




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