Recognizing When A Loved One with Dementia Needs Extra Care

Caring for a loved one with dementia is an everchanging and challenging journey for family caregivers. Recognizing when additional help is needed is critical for dementia caregivers.

However, it can be difficult for caregivers to accept or recognize when help is needed. It’s common for family caregivers to feel obligated or guilty about asking friends, family, or professionals to care for their loved ones.

And sometimes, caregivers are just used to caring for a loved one for so long that they don’t recognize they need additional help.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss everything you need to recognize when a loved one with dementia needs extra care.

Signs a Loved One With Dementia Needs Additional Help

Dementia is a progressive disease with many stages. As the disease progresses, you will eventually need additional help.

Individuals with dementia have difficulty with memory, communication, and personal care; these symptoms will worsen over time, and you will ultimately need additional help.

Caregivers must understand the importance of getting additional help when needed. If you’re caring for a loved one in the early stages of dementia, now is the time to plan and identify helpful and available resources when needed.

Escalating Care Needs

People with dementia can forget to shower, brush their teeth, eat, or change clothes, managing these daily tasks is time-consuming for families.

When your loved one has difficulty with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, toileting, grooming, and eating, it’s a sign that additional help is needed.

Neglecting personal hygiene or proper nutrition increases the risk of dehydration, infections, and skin conditions. Professional caregivers can provide the support needed to help your loved one maintain personal hygiene and overall health.

Increasing Safety Concerns

A critical sign a loved one with dementia needs extra care is increasing safety concerns. It’s common for people with dementia to get lost while driving to familiar places, forget to turn off the water or the stove, or leave the house without locking the door.

Behavioral Changes

Many people with dementia experience emotional and behavioral changes as their condition progresses. They may have mood swings, increased agitation, aggression, and personality changes.

This can be emotionally upsetting and impossible for family caregivers to handle.

Dementia professionals can give families tips and techniques for de-escalation, redirection, and coping mechanisms to help with behavioral challenges.

Caregiver Stress & Burnout

As dementia progresses, caregiving can take over your life. In addition to caring for their loved ones, caregivers still must work, care for children, and manage their households.

If you’re experiencing chronic stress, physical and mental exhaustion, and health issues, this is a critical sign you need more help.

Neglecting yourself to care for a loved one jeopardizes the health and well-being of yourself and your loved one. If something happens to you, what happens to your loved one?

Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re failing; you’re ensuring your loved one will receive the care they need and deserve while allowing you to take care of your well-being so that you can be there for them.

Types of Care Options for People With Dementia

Once it’s determined that additional help is needed, numerous resources and options exist to assist families. Many caregivers ask friends and family to help with errands, household tasks, shopping, and food preparation.

However, this is not always an option, and hiring outside professionals is needed. Here are outside resources to help with dementia care:

In-Home Care

In-home care services involve caregivers who come to the home for a few hours each day to help dementia patients with bathing, dressing, medication management, eating, or companionship.

In-home care gives caregivers additional help while allowing people with dementia to remain in familiar surroundings.

Adult Daycare Centers

Adult daycare centers provide a secure environment for people with dementia to participate in activities and socialize. Caregivers can have a few hours weekly to run errands, catch up on housework, enjoy a leisurely meal, or unwind.

Memory Care Communities

Memory care communities are designed for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. They can be free-standing or part of an assisted living community.

Memory care communities provide resources and support for residents and families:

• 24-hour staffing and security
• Specially trained staff to deal with people with memory impairments
• Customized activities for people at every stage of dementia
• Secure indoor and outdoor spaces
• Specially designed spaces, such as free-flowing floor designs, smaller living spaces, larger social spaces, and colors appealing to people with memory impairments

Wrap-up

People with dementia require and deserve quality, high levels of care to lead a safe and productive life. Despite their best efforts, family caregivers can’t always provide the care needed for a loved one with dementia.

Recognizing when a loved one with dementia needs extra care is essential to the health and wellness of everyone involved.

Although asking for help is not always easy, it’s vital to recognize when a loved one needs extra care and take the necessary steps to find appropriate solutions.