Caregiving for parents with dementia can be a challenging adjustment. Whether your loved one is experiencing Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, vascular dementia or other brain changes affecting memory, their support needs increase over time. Thankfully, with preparation, professional guidance and compromise, you can help your parent with dementia enjoy a happy, safe life into their golden years.
When caring for a parent with dementia at home, you may need to adjust the furniture layout, lighting fixtures and decor to safeguard your loved one against falls, help them navigate their home independently and stay relaxed.
Dementia can affect how the brain processes visual information, making it more challenging to tell shapes apart and move around a space. Install motion-activated lights in hallways and bathrooms for visibility after dark. You can also help your loved one discern countertops, coffee tables, doors and stairs by lining their edges with brightly colored tape.
Coordination, memory and problem-solving challenges are common with dementia, so your parent might struggle to use home equipment as their condition progresses. You can help them by introducing shower chairs, railings, stair lifts and grab bars for stability.
How to deal with dementia in a parent depends on their unique needs. People with cognitive differences can experience sensory overload when their surroundings are too busy and stimulating. Minimize triggers in their living space that agitate or overwhelm them. Decluttering the home can also open up space for your parent to move around and make the area easier to clean.
Some items may be sentimental, so keep cherished things in storage instead of discarding them. Your parent may forget they’ve given you permission to remove something and become flustered when they can’t find it.
If your parent is prone to taking unsupervised walks, consider these strategies for their safety:
When enjoying an outing with your parent, accompany them during bathroom trips, choose quieter, more familiar environments, and ensure they are never left alone in the car.
Coping with a parent with dementia can sometimes feel difficult. Following a daily schedule lets you plan your own life around your parent’s needs while giving them more autonomy. People with cognitive challenges also find comfort in repetition and predictability, so clearly display the routine on an easy-to-read calendar and stick to it diligently.
Dementia can cause forgetfulness about basic self-care tasks. To preserve your parent’s dignity, hygiene and health, establish specific times for personal care. Set labeled smartphone alarms throughout the day to remind you and your loved one what’s next on the agenda. Use a weekly pill organizer so you can easily see if your parent has taken the day’s medications.
Dementia symptoms often worsen in the evening, a phenomenon known as sundowning. To prevent agitation, ensure your loved one gets quality rest. Discourage naps during the day, and limit noise, crowds, screens, alcohol and caffeine in the afternoons. Encourage a relaxing, consistent bedtime ritual.
Too many clothing options can perplex and intimidate your parent. Together, choose a week’s worth of comfortable, easy-to-wear outfits per season. Pick elasticated, pullover clothing over more fiddly button-up attire. This way, they can dress themselves and enjoy more self-reliance.
Memory lapses, hallucinations, delusions and paranoia may cause your loved one to distrust you or the people around them. They may accuse others of hiding or stealing their belongings. Keep records of all their payments, note where they keep their cherished items or place GPS trackers on high-value objects so you can easily demonstrate that their valuables are safe.
Keep your loved one engaged to avoid loneliness and boredom. Take them on relaxing nature walks, watch comfort shows with them, read books to them or get creative with art supplies. For many with dementia, long-term memory is more resilient than short-term memory, so consider reminiscing with your loved one over music, photos and memorabilia.
Learning how to talk to a parent with dementia takes open-mindedness and compromise. Although you may feel frustrated, focus on validating your loved one’s feelings instead of reiterating concrete facts. Remember that what they experience, even if imagined, still feels real to them.
Speak to your loved one with courtesy and reassurance, include them in discussions and avoid showing frustration. Articulate your words, speak unhurriedly, avoid arguing and stick to one topic at a time. Try to get your message across as clearly as possible while still making your parent feel respected as an adult.
Open-ended questions can be tough to process for people with later-stage dementia. Instead, give them options to choose between. For example, ask, “Would you like to go for a walk?” rather than the more complex question, “What do you want to do for today’s activity?”.
Knowing how to deal with an angry parent with dementia is critical for maintaining a good relationship. They may become agitated if they forget a word, can’t understand you, lose their train of thought, want something they can’t have or feel misunderstood. To help your loved one through emotionally challenging conversations:
Caregiving for parents with dementia can take a serious toll on your mental and physical well-being, especially if you’re figuring it out as you go along. It’s vital to make time for self-care, check in with yourself emotionally, see friends and family, and take breaks to decompress and recharge. Caregiver burnout is common and valid, and there often comes a time to seek support from compassionate, skilled professionals for your loved one.
You are not alone in your situation, and things will get easier. Discussion forums and social media websites are home to many children of parents with dementia, alongside nurses, researchers, doctors and therapists. Use these resources for emotional support, informed advice and reassurance.
If you still want the best quality of life for your parent but find yourself unable to continue caring for them alone, reach out to a trusted retirement community in your area with professional memory care facilities. Your loved one will receive the attention, health care, social interaction, independence and stimulation they need while you get peace of mind, regular visits and quality time with your parent.
Elm Terrace is a thriving retirement community located in the historic borough of Lansdale, Pennsylvania. It’s home to a highly reputable retirement living community with an excellent memory care facility. Our comforting atmosphere, engaging activities, delicious meals and wide range of amenities will keep your parent with dementia feeling safe, supported, entertained and respected.
Reach out at 215-361-5600, contact us online or schedule a free lunch and tour of our facility to see if Elm Terrace is a good fit for your loved ones.
