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Author: Home Helpers Home Care

Receiving a dementia diagnosis can bring on a lot of stress, for the person diagnosed with dementia and for the family members who love them. Dealing with the early stages of dementia means learning how to manage memory loss, confusion, and the beginnings of trouble managing daily tasks. With the right support from Alzheimer’s care services, families can learn to face these challenges easily with strategies that work well for them.

Stick to Routines That Work

Consistent routines can be incredibly comforting for seniors with dementia. Familiar schedules, waking up at the same time every day, and eating meals at the same time help to reduce anxiety and make life feel predictable and understandable again. Alzheimer’s care providers can help families keep routines steady and work to avoid sudden changes.

Keep Reminders and Mementos Around

Seniors with dementia often find gentle prompts and visual cues to be helpful. Written reminders, labels, calendars, and even photos with names written on them can be incredibly supportive. Favorite mementos, souvenirs, and keepsakes an also offer comfort while stimulating memories. These small changes can help seniors with dementia stay grounded.

Promote Independence and Extra Help

The earlier stages of dementia can be problematic simply because seniors still wnat to maintain their independence as much as possible, but they know they may need help from home care providers and family caregivers. Encouraging them to handle the tasks they can allows seniors with dementia to make decisions and continue to live their lives. Caring for someone with dementia means creating careful balance between offering support and letting them do what they can.

Plan Activities Seniors Enjoy

Favorite hobbies and simple activities do a lot to reduce agitation, boost mood, and give seniors something to look forward to. These activities might involve making crafts, listening to music, reading books, gardening, or any other things seniors love to do. Alzheimer’s care providers can be there to offer support and keep an eye on safety issues, while letting seniors with dementia have fun and enjoy familiar activities.

Talk About Concerns and Frustrations

The early stages of dementia mean that the dementia patient is often still aware of the changes they’re experiencing and they’re balancing a lot of emotions about what’s happening. Being able to talk openly about fears, concerns, and frustrations helps them to feel heard and understood. This also allows family caregivers and Alzheimer’s care providers to find solutions for those concerns. Talking about these issues in an open and honest way can help seniors with dementia feel more comfortable that their needs are going to be respected and addressed in the future, too.

Caring for a loved one in the early stages of dementia brings with it so many challenges. But there are also opportunities to build a foundation for what is to come. Alzheimer’s care providers can help families to understand more about dementia and how it is likely to affect the seniors they love. Family caregivers can make more informed decisions about what care might look like for the seniors they love as dementia continues to progress.

If you or an aging loved one is considering Alzheimer’s care in Los Gatos, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers today (408) 317-4969.