When someone is diagnosed with dementia, it can be a difficult and emotional experience both for the individual and family members. It’s normal to feel stressed or frustrated. Please know you’re not alone. We’re here to help guide you every step of the way.
While dementia isn’t curable, there are many ways to continue showing your love and support for your family member. In this blog, we’ll discuss how to help someone with dementia — so you can provide the best possible support for your loved one.
How Dementia Affects Behavior and Cognition
Dementia is a condition that affects how the brain functions. As the disease progresses, symptoms often become more severe. You may start to notice changes in their thinking and behavior. These changes usually become more noticeable with time.
Cognitive Changes in Dementia
Dementia and other memory-related conditions often lead to a decline in important cognitive skills.
Here are some key signs to look out for:
- Memory Impairments: Increased forgetfulness is one of the most common signs of dementia. Someone with dementia may struggle to recall things, places, or even people they know. These changes can be confusing for both the affected person and family members.
- Language and Communication Challenges: As symptoms worsen, your loved one with dementia may have difficulty communicating. You might notice they have trouble finding the right words or struggle to follow long conversations.
- Executive Function Decline: It’s common for people with dementia to forget to pay bills, struggle to plan meals, or lose track of time. As the disease progresses, it often becomes more challenging or even unsafe for individuals to live by themselves.
- Difficulty With Reasoning and Judgment: Dementia usually affects a person’s reasoning and judgment skills, particularly during the later stages of the disease. Possible indications include making unsound decisions more often, like falling for scams, and forgetting to eat or take medication.
Behavioral and Emotional Changes
Dementia can also impact how a person thinks and behaves. Your family member may become stressed and agitated for no apparent reason. These behavioral changes can be challenging to both you and your loved one. It’s important to be patient and supportive during this time. Some key indications to watch out for include:
- Mood Swings: People with dementia may go from feeling calm to suddenly acting upset, angry, or frustrated without a clear reason.
- Increased Agitation or Restlessness: Some individuals may become easily agitated, especially when they’re in an unfamiliar environment or feeling uncomfortable.
- Wandering and Confusion: As dementia progresses, affected people may wander from home or get lost in familiar places. Oftentimes, these behaviors necessitate a higher level of support, like a memory care community.
- Hallucinations or Delusions: Sometimes, dementia may cause people to see or hear things that aren’t there. These changes can be distressing for both the affected individual and their family. Even if what your loved one is seeing or hearing isn’t real, the experience feels real to them — so avoid arguing or trying to convince them otherwise. Instead, offer them reassurance and comfort.
Practical Strategies to Help Someone With Dementia
People with dementia and other memory conditions usually require more assistance as symptoms progress. This can be challenging, particularly for caregivers who don’t know how to help someone with dementia.
Here are a few practical strategies for ways to help a person with dementia:
- Communicate Effectively: Your loved one with dementia may find it challenging to speak clearly or understand what you’re saying. This can be incredibly frustrating for both of you. Try talking to them slowly and clearly and gently reassure them. Refrain from arguing, as it will only make things worse.
- Provide a Safe Environment: As symptoms progress, it’s important to make necessary adjustments to help individuals with memory conditions navigate their surroundings safely. Remove fall hazards, consider installing grab handles, and clearly label commonly used items to help minimize confusion. Keep away any items that might cause harm, such as medication, cleaning chemicals, and sharp utensils. You may also want to avoid large crowds, loud noises, or other common triggers that may upset someone with dementia.
- Personal Assistance: Your family member may be largely independent in the early stages of dementia. However, as symptoms progress, they may need more help with personal care tasks, like dressing, bathing, and eating. While it’s natural to want to step in, your loved one may respond with resistance, especially when it comes to personal care tasks like bathing and dressing. Gently encourage them to do what they can on their own and only offer your support when needed.
- Emotional and Psychological Support: People with dementia often experience mood swings, anxiety, or frustration. As a caregiver, it’s normal to feel angry or frustrated with these changes. Try to be patient and gently reassure your loved one. Gentle phrases like “I understand” can help them feel heard and supported. Even when your family member’s behavior is challenging, it’s important to remember that it’s not their fault — it’s the disease that’s causing these changes.
- Professional Counseling and Support: Caring for dementia patients can be physically and emotionally draining, particularly as symptoms progress. If you’re finding it challenging to keep up with your family member’s needs, it’s okay to ask for help. Joining a caregiver support group can help you connect with other families and caregivers who understand how to help someone with dementia.
Supporting Yourself, Other Family Members, and Caregivers
Dementia is often a difficult and unpredictable journey, and it’s easy for family caregivers to overlook their own health and comfort as their loved one needs more assistance.
Here are some practical ways to help you maintain your well-being:
- Self-Care for Caregivers: Taking care of yourself is just as important as supporting your loved one’s needs. When someone you love needs assistance, it’s normal to want to do everything by yourself. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed from supporting someone with dementia, consider reaching out to other family members or close friends for assistance.
- It’s also a good idea to regularly take breaks to allow yourself to recharge. A respite care community with a dedicated memory care neighborhood can help support your loved one’s needs as you rest, recharge, or attend to other responsibilities.
- Local Resources and Support Networks: Caring for someone with dementia can be a demanding role, particularly for inexperienced caregivers. Luckily, there are many resources and support networks available to help you learn how to care for someone with dementia, including:
- Local support groups: Joining local and online dementia support groups can connect you to other caregivers who understand how to help someone with dementia. In many cases, these groups can offer useful insights and encouragement to help you along your journey. Alzheimer’s Association provides a searchable database that you can use to find support groups in your area.
- Online Support Networks: If you can’t attend physical meetings, online support groups like ALZConnected and Caregiver Nation can be great alternatives.
- Financial and Legal Considerations: As dementia progresses, your loved one may need more assistance than you can provide at home. While memory care communities are designed to handle the unique needs of someone with dementia, the specialized services they offer can significantly increase care costs. If you’re considering additional support, a senior living advisor can help you understand potential expenses and payment options. On the legal side, addressing necessary paperwork—like a power of attorney (POA) or a will—early on can save families time, money, and avoid potential conflict down the road. Here are a few things to consider:
- Potential Care Costs: Memory care communities often provide specialized programs and staffing, which can drive up expenses. Researching different care options — and comparing services and costs — can help you make an informed decision about what best fits your loved one’s needs and your budget.
- Addressing Legal Paperwork: During the early stages of dementia, your loved one may still have the capacity to sign documents such as a POA or a will. Setting up these legal safeguards early can prevent complications later and ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in your loved one’s long-term care.
Adapting Daily Routine for a Loved One With Dementia
If you’re learning how to help someone with dementia, creating a structured daily routine may help them know what to expect — and may help reduce feelings of anxiety and confusion. When designing a routine for your loved one with dementia, it’s important to carefully consider their needs, interests, and abilities.
Here are a few practical tips to help you create a daily routine that benefits both you and your family member:
- Provide Straightforward Choices: Try to limit the number of choices to just a couple to avoid overwhelming your loved one.
- Avoid Complex Tasks: People with dementia may find some tasks too difficult or even stressful. Include simple, comforting tasks, such as folding clothes or drying dishes. When trying out a new activity, consider breaking it down into simple steps.
- Think About What They Like: Incorporating activities your family member enjoys can help reduce stress and anxiety.
- Schedule Regular Breaks: People with dementia often tire quickly. When planning activities for someone you love, it’s always a good idea to schedule breaks in between.
Here’s an example of a daily routine for someone with early to middle-stage dementia.
How a Memory Care Community Can Help a Loved One With Dementia
It can be frustrating to watch someone you love struggle with dementia. As symptoms progress, it may become even more challenging to effectively support your family member’s needs at home. Memory care communities are thoughtfully designed to meet the unique needs of individuals with dementia and other memory-related conditions.
Here’s how they may benefit your loved one with dementia:
- Safe and Secure Environment: Memory care communities provide safe outdoor spaces, allowing residents to enjoy fresh air without the risk of wandering. They’re also designed with residents’ safety in mind, with key security features such as alarms, well-lit hallways, and controlled access.
- Personalized Care for Unique Needs: People living in memory care communities are often in different stages of their journey, so their needs may not always be the same. Many communities offer flexible support plans that can be adjusted to meet each resident’s individual needs.
- Trained Caregivers: Caregivers and employees in memory care communities fully understand how to help someone with dementia. They may assist residents with meals, bathing and grooming, managing medication, mobility assistance, and more to help them live comfortable and healthy lives.
- Meaningful Activities: It’s important for people with dementia to stay mentally and physically active. Most memory care communities offer planned programs and activities, such as crafting, music therapy, art sessions, and gentle exercise, to help promote wellness.
- Structured Routines: Memory care communities often follow structured schedules to provide a sense of familiarity. These routines often incorporate support, meals, and meaningful activities.
- Meaningful Connections: Unique to StoryPoint Group communities, our Connections Points Memory Care Approach is a unique approach to memory care that is science-backed, yet extremely personal. It gives every resident, team member, and family the best possible experience, one connection point at a time.
See What Life Is Like at a StoryPoint Group Community
Moving a loved one to a memory care community can be a challenging and emotional decision for many families. You naturally want what’s best for your family member, and it’s normal to have questions.
Here’s a helpful video highlighting what it’s like living with us:
StoryPoint Group: Here for You and Your Loved One
At StoryPoint Group communities, we understand it can be challenging when a family member is diagnosed with dementia. Know that we’re here to help support both you and your family member every step of the way. We meet each resident where they’re at in their journey with dementia.
If you or someone you love could benefit from memory care or other support services, we’re ready to help. Call us today at 1-844-275-9990 to learn more about our award-winning communities.
