Aishling Care Academy On Caregivers Of Dementia Patients

caregivers dementia patients Jul 14, 2022

Families and caregivers face several difficulties while providing for a loved one with dementia. Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia cause a gradual biological brain dysfunction that impairs a person's ability to think correctly, recall details, interact with those around, and manage basic needs. 

Caregivers who care for a loved one who has dementia frequently struggle with challenging behavioral issues, mood swings, and communication difficulties. Fortunately, the training provided by Aishling Care Academy can help with these challenges.

Listen with Your Heart, Eyes, and Ears 

Waiting for a response from a loved one takes time. If they have difficulty coming up with a solution, you can offer words or answers. Always be aware of their body language and nonverbal signs so that you can reply accordingly. Also, make an effort to pay attention to the deeper meanings and sentiments conveyed by the words.
 

Draw the Person's Attention

When you need to draw one’s attention, turn the TV or radio off, close the door, draw the curtains, or relocate to a quieter location to reduce noise and distractions. Always be sure to get their regard before communicating to have a deeper connection. 

You can use nonverbal clues and touch to keep them attentive or say their name and mention yours. Moreover, you can lower yourself to their eye level when sitting and keep an attentive gaze.
 

Show Your Devotion by Responding with Affection

Dementia patients frequently experience feelings of confusion, anxiety, and self-doubt. Furthermore, they are prone to losing track of reality and recalling events that never took place. Try not to persuade them that you are right. 

Make sure you respond to their strong sentiments and emotions (which are real) with support, encouragement, and reassurance statements. When everything else fails, try hand-holding, caressing, embracing, and praising to elicit a response.
 

Step-by-Step Breakdown of Tasks

Breaking down tasks makes a lot of things easier. There are various ways you can help an aging loved one:

  • Encouraging them to do what they still can.
  • Gently remind them of essential steps they may have forgotten.
  • Helping them with tasks they are unable to complete on their own.

For example, visual cues might be pretty valuable, such as pointing out where to place the dinner dish with your hand.
 

Distract and Redirect When Things Get Difficult

Redirect your loved one's attention by altering the topic or the setting if they get anxious or frustrated. You can suggest going for a walk or asking them to do some tasks for you. Before redirecting, it's necessary to connect with the individual emotionally. You can try saying, "I realize you're sad—I'm sorry you're disappointed. In the mood for a snack?"
 

Final Thoughts

Although we might not know the proper way to communicate with dementia patients, we can still learn to converse with them. Your loved one's quality of life will likely improve when you develop your communication skills as a caregiver.

The internet is a goldmine of knowledge when it comes to learning about Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia. But Aishling Care Academy’s approach is incomparable which has more in-depth simulations of caring for dementia patients.

Contact us to know more about the fantastic way of learning caregiving.

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