Improve The Wellbeing of Dementia Patients With A Nurse At Home

Dementia is a term used to describe a variety of brain disorders that most typically affect older adults. Symptoms can include loss of memory, judgment and reasoning, and changes in both mood and behaviour. When loved ones notice that a senior’s brain function is affected enough to interfere with their ability to safely complete everyday activities, it’s time to find out more about senior home care or other care options.

It can certainly feel overwhelming when the times comes to provide your parent or a senior family member with extra support. Did you know that the longer you can provide care and support at home for your loved one, the better their quality of life will be? It is possible to keep someone with dementia safe at home, particularly with the support of those trained in senior home care for patients living with Alzheimer or dementia.

4 Ways Senior Home Care Supports Dementia Patients

It may take some time for you to find the right senior home care program, so be sure to do some research and find out more about options that are available in your area. We’re sharing some of the ways that senior home care and companion care can support dementia patients, and we encourage you to use this as a reference to help you find the support you need.

1. Reduces frustrations.

A person suffering from dementia may become agitated when simple tasks become difficult or impossible. In order to replace their feelings of not being able to do things they once could, senior home care can help reduce boredom and loneliness by helping to establish new routines and improve self-esteem.

2. Focuses on individualized care.

Each person with dementia will experience symptoms and progression differently. It’s important to find senior home care that can deliver an individualized dementia care plan that takes into account the patient’s history, their family, as well as their interests, abilities, and favourite activities.

Arranging companion care services can also help with specific tasks around the house that may now be more challenging like housekeeping, meal preparation or transportation. In addition to those activities, dementia patients can also receive help with:

• Mental stimulation.
• Expressive Art therapy programs .
• Physical stimulation and exercise to help maintain strength and balance.
• Medication reminders.
• Grocery shopping and errands.

3. A safer home environment.

Proper dementia care at home requires a safe home environment. When you work with trained senior home care providers, they will be able to help set up a safe home environment that can prevent falls or accidents. They may make the following suggestions to support home safety:

• Using electrical appliances that shut off on their own.
• Having medications organized in a weekly blister pack and delivered on a regular schedule.
• Installing hand bars or grab rails in critical areas.
• Removing clutter around hallways and stairs.

4. Regular feedback and support.

When your loved one is regularly getting support from a senior home care program, this means that you have a trained professional who can:

• Be consistently monitoring for safety concerns.
• Be observing, managing and redirecting behaviour.
• Be reporting any behaviour changes to family.

By receiving consistent, helpful feedback, you can make decisions, as needed, to continue to provide the best quality of life for your senior loved one. This support will allow you to know if more mental stimulation is needed, whether companion care would be welcomed or whether it may also be time to add personal care services such as dressing or bathing.

Dementia Patients Can Thrive With Senior Home Care

If you think your loved one dealing with dementia could benefit from senior home care or companion care, contact iCare Home Health.  We understand that every situation is different and use a unique combination of listening and understanding, family feedback and goals, doctor’s recommendations and instructions in order to create a custom care plan. For support in the Milton, Oakville, Burlington and Mississauga area, please reach out to us. iCare Home Health’s team of professional caregivers can help!