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BACK2022-04-06
Care Home
If you’re trying to understand dementia caregiving and want clarity on what every caregiver must know at different stages of the condition, talk to our expert team and get answers to all your questions now.
What is dementia?
A progressive neurodegenerative disorder, Dementia affects the cognitive abilities of an individual like memory, thinking, and reasoning. Various factors contribute to this condition and dementia is categorized into types based on the causative factor. Alzheimer's is the most commonly diagnosed cause of dementia among older adults.
How dementia progresses over time?
At the onset, dementia may not majorly affect an individual’s functioning. But, as the condition progresses to later stages, people require assistance with even routine activities like eating and bathing. Although not a normal part of the aging process, dementia is more common as people grow older.
Why is dementia caregiving important?
Seniors with dementia require undivided care and attention to ensure they lead a safe and healthy lifestyle, by receiving the right form of support. As the condition progresses, the patient’s needs change at every stage, and so do the responsibilities of a caregiver. Let’s take a look at the role a dementia caregiver plays and the need for expert dementia caregiving services, and the key aspects of dementia caregiving that evolve as the condition progresses.
Stages of Dementia and the Caregiver's Evolving Role
Initial stage with early signs of dementia
In the initial days, seniors are mostly independent and continue going about their daily activities. During this stage, a caregiver largely plays the role of a friend or companion that lends a helping hand when needed and helps in planning for the future. In this stage, dementia symptoms caregiver should note and take care of common patient signs like increased forgetfulness, mood changes, difficulty communicating, and challenges in performing daily tasks.
Middle stage: increased dependency and daily assistance
As the condition progresses into the middle stages, things start to get much harder. The frustration levels increase as they find it harder to recollect things, think, express, or even carry out their daily routine. There is now a pressing need for constant support. Caregivers need to be patient and take decisions that guarantee patient safety. Patients will find it hard to communicate as they start to forget words, are unable to convey their thoughts, and face difficulties in understanding others as well. This is where dementia communication strategies become crucial for maintaining trust, comfort, and emotional balance. From home safety to daily care needs and more, caregivers are responsible for all facets of the patient’s life.
Later stage: Full-time care and emotional support
In the later stages, the condition further intensifies, creating a pressing need for round-the-clock care. Extreme changes in behavior, inability to communicate, and more, full-time help becomes a necessity. At this stage, caregivers play a very crucial role - ensuring dignity and quality of life.
Why Expert Dementia Care Teams Matter
For seniors with dementia, it requires a team of experts to work together, throughout the day, to ensure patients are comfortable and get everything they need. Even the best in-house care measures may fall short over the years, making memory care homes a wise choice for seniors and their families.
Memory Care Homes for patient wellbeing and superior quality of life
Dementia caregivers help both the patient and their families to cope with the condition and provide quality care. Memory care homes that offer specialized dementia caregiving services provide 24/7, exclusive care, powered by a team of trained experts. Antara’s Memory Care Homes offers long-term assisted care services for seniors, to ensure they lead a dignified and comfortable life, under the supervision of trained caregivers.
Skilled dementia caregivers, nutritionists, and a fully-equipped residential facility, Antara Memory Care Homes provides a peaceful and warm environment for seniors to lead a high-quality life, in the company of compassionate caregivers. Antara Memory Care Homes promises best-in-class services, in a one-of-its-kind safe, and reliable environment.
Comprehensive care with safe infra, balanced diet, mental stimulation activities, and therapies, our care plans focus on mental rehabilitation and overall patient wellbeing. Our Memory Care Homes have been designed for patients challenged with memory-loss ailments such as Dementia, and offer customized therapies that cater to individual cognitive needs. Antara’s specially trained memory caregivers and state-of-the-art infrastructure ensure your seniors are in good hands. For more on our Assisted Care services, call +91 98114 41111.
Antara’s Memory Care Homes is the right choice for your loved one suffering from dementia. It offers personalised dementia care, 24/7 expert supervision, and a safe, structured, and compassionate environment based on their needs.
Conclusion
Taking care of someone with dementia can be one of the toughest things for a dementia caregiver, but it is also the most wonderful thing you can do for your loved ones.
As the illness increases in severity you can witness a change from needing a little help initially to specialized memory care later. If you know about each stage how it brings new problems and you can change the way to help.
Your job as a caregiver is not only to support your loved ones in their daily activities but they also need your emotional backing, standing up for them, and working with doctors. The five pillars of dementia care—recognize, respond, rehabilitate, reassure, and review—offer a guide for this path.
Keep in mind that asking for expert help doesn't mean you've failed. It shows you understand the tricky medical needs that come with dementia. Key aspects of dementia caregiving involve good planning, family help and expert advice. You can give kind care while looking after yourself on this tough but key journey.
Keep an eye on memory problems that hamper everyday life, or if your loved ones have trouble doing familiar things, or they are looking lost, have problems talking or understanding others. Watch for changes in behavior like always looking worried, sadness, personality changes, avoiding people, and acting out of character. The World Health Organization stresses the need to watch both thinking problems and mood swings. Spotting these signs helps get professional help and plan care sooner.
The five pillars provide a comprehensive care framework:
Pay attention to everyday tasks like eating, bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom as well as more complex activities such as managing medications and going shopping
Handle care resistance by putting the person first, trying to understand what's causing it (like pain or confusion) and building trust through regular interactions.
Some things that caregivers can do for themselves are:
The 4 R's approach highlights
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