2 Tools You Can Use To Help Care For Your Family Member With Dementia
Dementia is a terrible disease for everyone involved with it. The person who has it is slowly having their sense of self stolen from them, while their loved ones have to watch them slip away from them mentally while still being there physically. The patient's family and loved ones also have to deal with trying to keep the person safe and cared for while dealing with an adult who sometimes knows what's going on and sometimes doesn't and who may sometimes think that they are a child.
Dementia can also cause the person who has it to be very impulsive and to have problems with their anger control. All those things can be really wearing on family members who are trying to care for someone with dementia. Luckily, there are things that you can do if you have a loved one with dementia.
Respite Care
One thing that you can do is to work with a home health care agency to come up with some respite care. If you are caring for your loved one all day, every day, you can get very tired and you can end up with not having the time you need in order to go out and do something for yourself. That's where respite care comes in. You can get X amount of hours each month where either a worker will come into your house or you can take your loved one to a center. They will care for your loved one while you are able to get some time to yourself so that you can catch your breath, take a few hours for yourself, or do whatever it is you need to do.
Adult Day Care
If you need to work or have to be gone during the day, you may also want to look into an adult day care program. Just like child care, you would take your loved one there in the mornings and then pick them up at the end of the day. Your loved one could also be there for just a few hours of the day, whatever works best for you and your family. There would be trained people there who could care for your loved ones, as well as programs that would allow your loved one to do things and stay engaged, which can help with dementia.
If you have a loved one dealing with dementia, it's hard on you and them. There are things that you can do that will make everything easier on you and your family member. Talk to a senior home care agency today.