Caregiving at HomeTips to Make the Job Less StressfulWhen dealing with dementia your loved one may eventually require full time caregiving at home. There are a number of ways this can be done successfully. They all require some preparation and planning as well as cooperation from the entire family. The ideal situation, depending on the dementia patient’s overall health, would be to keep them in their own home for as long as possible. Another alternative is to move them into your home. If they are able to be mostly independent with some supervision throughout the day then an occasional visit or phone call should suffice, but as the symptoms progress they will need more and more help with the activities of daily living. I remember the day I walked into my Mom’s kitchen and saw the pan sitting on the hot stove burner, empty and smoking. Not a good situation! Mom needed full time supervision for about a year before her death and constant, hands-on supervision for about six months of that time. Thankfully, she lived with her husband so he was a tremendous help in seeing that she was safe and cared for, but he has health problems also so it was neither possible nor practical for him to do the job alone. Several times we considered moving Mom into our home, but the layout and space constraints just didn’t make it the best situation. She was able to live in her own home until complications from her blood clots caused her to be hospitalized about a month before her death. If your loved one requires constant care and you are able to move into their home this might make them more cooperative since they will be surrounded by their own familiar things. But whether they live in their home or yours here are some tips to make caregiving at home easier. ContractFulltime caregiving at home requires time, energy, patience, and commitment from everyone in the family. If you live alone with the dementia patient then you will need outside help, perhaps in the form of a housecleaner or respite care while you care for yourself.If you live with other family members make sure that everyone is clear on what needs to be done to care for the dementia patient. If possible, assign tasks to those who are old enough to help with the caregiving. Consider drawing up a Contract between the adults and older teens. The contract can cover the responsibilities of each person. Caregiving at home is a difficult task and there is much to be done. Knowing what each person is in charge of ensures that everything is accomplished with much less stress.
ScheduleMake up a regular schedule for the family to follow. This doesn’t have to be rigid. As a matter of fact, with a dementia patient in the home, a rigid schedule will probably lead to frustration.But a general idea of what you do each morning, after lunch, and in the evening will help ensure that jobs get done and that your loved one has enough stimulation each day. Try to schedule Dr. appointments on the same day of the week every time. Have a certain day for grocery shopping and errand running. Plan basic menus for each week. These regular routines will relieve much stress. SafetyAs the dementia patient becomes more and more confused the need to keep them safe increases. Monitor your home for tripping hazards, choking hazards, and sharp objects. Be sure that there is adequate lighting without a lot of shadows since shadows can add to the confusion of someone suffering from dementia.Caregiving at home requires diligence. you don't want your home to become hospital-like, but at the same time it needs to be a clean and safe environment fro the dementia patient. Pay extra attention to those things that could cause harm. Wandering is often a problem. Disguise outside exits by running a paint stripe or wall paper boarder around the room including across the door or disable the regular door handle and install another one near the top of the door. The dementia patient will usually assume that the old knob is broken and won’t think to look for another way out. Be sure to register your loved one with the Alzheimer’s Association’s Safe Return Program. You may never need this service, but if you do it will be invaluable. SimplicityDementia causes confusion. The more outside stimuli the dementia patient has to deal with the more difficult it will be for them to participate in tasks like eating a meal, brushing their teeth, or playing a game.The ultimate goal for caregiving at home is for the dementia patient to be at home and able to be a part of a family. Reducing clutter will not only make more room for necessary medical equipment, but will also reduce the distractions that can cause a person with dementia to be uncooperative. When it is time for your loved one to brush their teeth try preparing their toothbrush with the right amount of toothpaste on it and leaving it alone on the bathroom counter. The simplicity of seeing just the toothbrush should trigger a memory of its proper use and make it easier for the patient to accomplish the simple act of brushing their teeth. Look for other ways to remove distractions and make it easy for your loved one to participate in life. ActivitiesLife is so much more than just being sure everyone in the family is fed, clean, and clothed, and that the house is clean. There will be some days (maybe even weeks!) when this is all that gets done, but make it your goal to participate in some kind of activity each day.Painting, baking, singing and dancing, watching old movies, playing with grandchildren, visiting with friends, the list could go on and on. Find things that you both enjoy and do them. Caregiving at home is already busy and stressful. It doesn’t have to be boring too! Get a FREE Copy of Our Ebook!
when you subscribe to our FREE e-zine!
|
