Tag: Dementia Care
admin Dementia Care, Elderly Care, Elderly Care Home

A brief guide to understanding dementia behaviours

Caring for elderly with dementia is not an easy task and can become overwhelming for families. While you want to provide the best care and support to them, the lack of proper understanding of the condition, time and the required skills can add to the difficulty . Dementia is a complex disorder and does not come with a handbook with instructions. Depending on the person and the severity of the condition, each case can be different.

Elderly with dementia unintentionally use gestures and actions to communicate because their ability to express declines. Understand why they are acting in this way and what triggered them, when you observe the elderly displaying different behaviour. 

We have developed a guide to help you understand dementia and the various behaviours. We also have helpful tips for rightfully caring for the elderly with dementia.

A nutritious diet

Elderly suffering from dementia can forget to eat or even drink. One of the main requirements while caring for the eldelry with dementia is to take care of their optimal nutrition intake. For this, you might need to have a daily routine to sit with them and have food together. It is always a good choice to serve food to them that is rich in calories.

Wandering nature

Aimless wandering is the most common behaviour in elderly with dementia, which happens for various reasons, such as side effects of the medication. When this urge rises in the elderly, they could suddenly start searching for random objects or finding someone. 

Sleeplessness

The families taking care of an elderly with dementia can tackle sleeplessness of the elderly by increasing their physical activity during the day. This could be gradually reduced as per the changes in the elderly’s sleeping pattern. Some stimulants, like caffeine and sugar, can also be eliminated. It is also essential to seek guidance from a physician who can prescribe the proper medicine to ensure that your parents or grandparents adjust appropriately with their changed sleeping patterns.

Agitation

Elderly with dementia often experience unrest. If your loved one acts strangely, you don’t have to become overwhelmed as this is a common occurrence with dementia. To understand them, you have to keep a positive and empathetic attitude.Turning their things around or changing their environment could intensify the edlery’s agitation levels. In this situation, be gentle with them and try playing soothing music, which can help them calm down.

Elderly with dementia are sensitive and forget how to perform daily life activities. They might even forget family members and people they were close to earlier. The only way to build good understanding with them is to understand elderly’s dementia behaviours and then act accordingly. We hope that you have built some sort of understanding of dementia behaviors in the elderly. These points should be remembered, embraced, and adapted to treat the elderly with dementia empathetically and properly.

We at Senior care genie follow an empathetic and friendly approach to support the physical and emotional wellbeing of elderly with dementia while providing excellent care to them. Be it your search for a trained caregiver for your ageing loved ones or finding the right care home, we can help you access the best senior care services.
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Dementia Care: Training focus & approach towards caregivers for empathetic & skilled support

Dementia is a disease that worsens gradually over time and affects the ability of a person to recall and understand daily events like names, dates and places. Dementia is especially common in the elderly and affects the way they communicate. Whether it be at home or a care home, caring for an elderly with dementia requires patience, a skilled approach and an empathetic attitude. The caretaker who is going to be caring for the elderly will need to play many different roles depending on the elderly’s condition. From taking care of the patient medically to providing them emotional support, caretakers should be able to manage all.

Following are the qualities and attributes that a caregiver should have to care for the elderly with dementia in an optimal manner.

  • A better understanding of the disease- The caregiver has to be an expert in handling dementia cases. Dementia patients require personalised attention. From keeping them engaged to understanding their habits and emotions, it can be difficult for a caregiver to manage all of them if they are not adequately trained to treat or help the patient with dementia.
  • Taking care of the elderly is just like taking care of a child- A caregiver is responsible for personal care of the edlery, supporting them with their daily life activities, meals, health appointments and more. It is similar to taking care of a child wherein the caregiver must be extremely attentive and mindful of their actions. So choosing the proper care home or caregiver is crucial.
  • Understanding of the trigger points of the patient-  A dementia patient may have mood swings and behavioural changes. The caregiver should observe them closely and get a better understanding of what triggers the elderly to avoid using those words or actions in a day to day routine to establish a sound and healthy relationship with the patient.
  • Gentle and empathetic approach- When talking to the patient, a caregiver should always use a gentle approach and keep track of the following:

1) Don’t tell them they’re wrong

 2) Don’t argue with them

 3) Don’t ask them whether they remember anything

 4) Don’t remind them that their wife or parent or any other loved one is no more.

 5) Don’t talk to them about issues that may upset them.

  • Knowledge of medications – They should understand medicines properly and know the treatment schedule of the patient.
  • Knowing about hobbies and interests of the patient- To establish a healthy relationship with the elderly, the caregiver must try and talk about the interests and likings of the elderly. This is imperative for the caregiver as with this information they can better engage with elderly and better chart out the activities the elderly can participate in. 

A caregiver needs to listen more carefully when caring for an elderly with dementia.They may need to be more aware of nonverbal messages like facial and body expressions. They would also need to use assuring gestures with the elderly such as patting their arm or smiling to them while talking. 

At senior care genie, we help you provide the best care for your ageing loved ones with dementia with our empathetic and trained caregivers.Our caregivers make sure that the physical, emotional and social wellbeing of your ageing loved ones is taken care of. From elderly’s diet to their daily life activities, they handle every routine perfectly.
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Keeping seniors with dementia engaged! Stimulating dementia activities to try with your loved one

Staying active and keeping your elderly engaged is beneficial for both physical and mental health, and therefore it is imperative to engage in some form of activity with elderly.. Certain activities have proved particularly useful for those with dementia, such as games, risk- free household work,  outdoor activities, music and art. One thing that we need to ensure is that all the activities should be failure-free. Like all of us, they still have the need to feel successful. We have also experienced that if an elderly is happily engaged in an activity it reduces agitation & anger and calms their anxious nerves and aggressive behaviour.

Regardless of the stages of dementia, there are several everyday activities that one can do with their ageing loved ones. These can be very attractive and encouraging for elderly. 

We should carefully choose the activities and it should aim to:

  • Stir memories and allow them to reminisce about their life
  • Foster emotional connections with others – contact with others is vital
  • Encourage self-expression
  • Make them feel more engaged with life
  • Help them feel productive

Important note: We need to ensure that no sharp objects are around your elderly loved one. There is a possibility that they put things in their mouth, try to bite or hide things. Avoid small things. 

  1. Physical activities and exercises

Exercises and physical activity can have many advantages for dementia patients. It can help to regulate their sleep and prevent restlessness at night. It can also help maintain a good mood and reduce the risk of depression. A walk around their neighbourhood or at a park should be very much in their daily routine. Going out to temples, restaurants, and cafes should be occasionally planned as per their lifestyle. 

  1. Go down memory lane.

Elderly with dementia have their long term memory intact for a longer period of time. Creating a box full of their memorable things & engaging them in discussions and activities has always been wonderful. We call it a “Memory Box”. This can be a mixture of things that they would have used at work, books & magazines, pictures of family & friends or a favorite celebrity, or things from hobbies. For example: We created a memory box for an aunty recently and it was such a pleasure to see her smile looking at her favourite hair-clip & an antique hand-mirror. It is calming and joyous to relive treasured moments and celebrate the memories that the elderly love.

You can make this process even more interesting by creating a new stock of memories not only for your loved one but for all the near and dear ones.

  • Video record your loved one and discuss about their life,their childhood & their family, sing their favourite songs with them 
  • Look through photos and make a photo album
  • Watch family videos together, a relative’s wedding video might interest them!
  • Ask them about their favourite memories around a particular topic, such as their favourite holiday or oldest friend
  • You can even watch Youtube videos of their favourite singers or actors to facilitate this. This has numerous advantages, such as encouraging positive discussion and helping them reconnect and feel acknowledged.
  1. Explore nature

The perfect place to see new things and get some fresh air is in the lap of nature, wherein you can plan many stimulating activities for the edlerly. If your ageing loved ones like greenery then this one could be especially good.

  • Doing gardening together or a visit  to a botanical garden locally will be very encouraging to your loved one. 
  • You can create a mini garden & a sitting arrangement in your garden. 
  • Look at a nature documentary: TV can still offer some great opportunities to explore if the health of your love doesn’t allow you to go outdoors.

4. Explore their artistic side

Art and craft is an excellent way to explore the creative side of  your loved ones. For many, arts and crafts can provide a wide range of sensory stimulation even if they are not particularly artsy or creative.

The activities to be taken into account include:

  • Painting
  • Knitting
  • Colouring

If your aging loved ones don’t seem interested in activities or look resistant to the action, take a break and try again later. You may also try something else or ask them about how you can make this activity more pleasant to them. You must also concentrate on the process of spending time with them, and not just the results – the most important thing is that your loved one is happy.

5. Folding Laundry

The safest & successful way to keep an elderly engaged is to ask them to help you fold laundry. This activity will make them feel like they are contributing to the daily routine of the household. 

Experiences shared by our carers suggest that it’s best to use hand towels as they are small and easily folded.One more addition to the activity is pairing socks. It does not matter how well the performance is, the point is to make them feel good about the activity. 

6. Playing cards

With our experience we can say that most of the seniors enjoy playing cards and spend a good amount of time in the activity especially when the letters and numbers are large and easily readable. However, in the advanced stages of dementia, they might only enjoy shuffling the cards or separating them by color or suit. 

While engaging the elderly in any activity, it is super important to be highly observant about their expressions and reactions. If they seem disinterested or frustrated, then you may have to remove some cards so that they do not have to manage so many.

7. Music therapy

Music plays an important role in soothing and stimulating people. We always suggest families to keep a pen drive attached to their loved one’s TV with a playlist of their favourite artist or genre. It helps them connect well to their past. Watching videos of their favourite movie star or favourite singer brightens up their mood. 

Example : Recently, we created a playlist of a few bhajans for an aunty. It’s been 15 days and she has started humming along the tunes. It’s such a pleasure to see her connect so well to music and yes her behaviour has improved. 

8. Peeling peas & segregating pulses

We usually suggest this activity to seniors who were majorly involved in managing the kitchen and cooking in their lives. Simple & safe activities like peeling the peas and segregating pulses while listening to their favourite music keeps them engaged for a long time. 

We at Senior Care Genie connect families with the right caregiver specially trained for dementia patients to assist them patiently and empathetically. Patience and alertness is the key to manage the care for seniors with dementia.
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Spotting early signs of dementia in the elderly

In this busy and fast moving world, how does one ensure optimal care for their elderly loved ones? With so much occupying our time and the lack of proper knowledge, sometimes it can be hard to timely notice the symptoms of various health conditions in the elderly. One such disease is Dementia. Dementia usually occurs in older people. One might even associate the symptoms of dementia as a normal part of ageing due to lack of understanding of this condition. While memory loss and changes in the ability to think can also happen due to ageing, the differentiating factor lies in the severity of the change. 

Dementia has a few noticeable symptoms that occur as a result of cognitive impairment and can affect the elderly’ daily routine including their ability to think, remember. With time these symptoms tend to get worse, so it is important to spot these signs early on to enable the elderly to get optimal care before the condition worsens.

Typically there are ten early dementia signs. Diagnosis for dementia usually occurs when two or more of these symptoms start showing up and affecting the elderly’s daily routine.

The early signs of dementia are:

  • Loss of memory

An elderly with dementia may find it difficult to remember information such as dates, events or any new information that they have recently learnt. They may rely on family and friends or other memory aids to monitor things. Age-related memory loss is something completely different from the memory loss induced by dementia. The point of difference lies in the severity.

  • Difficulty in solving problems

It can be difficult for elderly with dementia to follow a plan, like a recipe during cooking. Navigating daily life activities can also become challenging, for example, adding numbers while calculating bills.

  • Misplacement of things

People with dementia may not recall where they leave everyday items such as remote control, documents, cash, or keys. Often, this misplacement can be mistaken as an act of robbery by elderly with dementia. In such cases, keep your calm and help them find the things that they have misplaced.

  • Less socialising

Elderly with dementia may be uninterested or dicey about socialising with others, be at home or work. They may withdraw themselves and not speak to others.

  • Mood swings and personality changes

The elderly might start experiencing mood swings or changes in personality. They may become irritable, depressed, afraid, or anxious. They can also become agitated or may harm themselves or others in the family.

  • Difficulty in performing simple tasks

Early signs of dementia in the elderly include difficulty in performing their everyday tasks. Activities that they could carry out earlier easily can also become extremely challenging for them. 

Bathing, cooking, and dressing themselves are few of the simplest tasks that the edlerly would need help with if they start showing dementia symptoms.

  • Confusion

Some people start experiencing confusion during early stages of dementia. They can no longer remember faces, find the right words, or normally interact with people.

  • Having trouble in speaking and writing

It can be difficult for an elderly with dementia to communicate well. They may forget what you say or what someone else said. Their spellings, punctuations, and grammar can become distorted, and It can become harder to read their handwriting.

  • Repetitiveness

Repetition in dementia occurs due to memory loss and changes in general behavioural patterns. The individual may repeat everyday tasks, including shaving, or collecting items obsessively.

They may repeat the same question to you again and again even after you have answered them. 

  • Fight to adapt to change.

The symptoms can generate fear in the edlerly during the early stages of dementia. After all,  suddenly they can’t remember people they know and can’t follow what others say. They might not even remember why they went to a particular shop and may even feel lost on the way home.
admin Dementia Care, Elderly Care, Elderly Care Home,

Dementia Care Home: Points to keep in mind before making the final decision

Taking care of elderly with dementia at home can be challenging, but most of us don’t want to consider the idea of care homes at first. However, elderly with dementia need continued attention and skilled care, which can be difficult to provide at home in the absence of a trained caregiver. Due to this, specialised care homes might emerge as the only solution to this specific situation.

However, making the final choice regarding the right care home can be equally daunting due to the emotions involved and differing opinions. Senior Care Genie makes this process easier for families by helping families make informed decisions according to their personalised needs.

Whether you are looking for care homes or for long-term care for your loved one, these are the key things that will help you decide the best:

Expertise and training of the team

The staff of the care home will be responsible for ensuring your loved one’s safety and wellbeing.Therefore, their expertise and professionalism is the key element that you need to check. You should always ask a lot of questions and keep an eye on the staff before you decide.You should consider care homes with skilled caregivers and nursing experience. Also observe if they are polite, warm and welcoming. Dementia patients require utmost care, so ensuring the appropriate training of the staff caring is vital and should not be ignored.

Direct contact person

The caregivers in the care home should see the elderly more than as a mere patient and should take their unique qualities, interests, preferences and needs into account. Here the personal care also includes maintaining the dignity and respect of the elderly. Knowing the direct contact person who is in charge of taking care of your parents/grandparents will help you to get weekly reports and updates about any changes in the elderly’s behaviour. Also, you can directly share the likes and dislikes with the person to help him understand the needs of your loved one easily. 

Dementia activities

It is equally important to analyse what all dementia activities are available before picking up a care home. Activities are really important as they keep the elderly occupied and do not let boredom hit them. Physical exercises ensure that they are physically fit and mentally stimulating activities like remembering past events, places they have travelled, art and craft, etc. to keep them engaged.

Security

Elderly with dementia have the tendency to roam around and walk out of secured premises. So, the security of the care home is most important. There should be defined emergency and alert systems in all areas of the care home. 

Food and dietary requirements

The food and dining experience has a significant effect on the satisfaction levels of care home residents. So before making a final decision, you should always visit the home during meal time for a clearer understanding of the kind of meals they serve. You should check during your visit to see if residents can choose from various options. Ask someone whether they offer food options and nutritious snacks when residents ask for it. Learn how they care for the elderly who are unable to feed themselves.

Timely reports

A care house is not only responsible for caring for the elderly with dementia. Care Home staff are also required to remain in contact with families if an accident or incident occurs. A staff member should always be available to discuss any specific concerns  with family members. This should include physical and emotional problems, and you should always look for whether this support is available.

It is important to choose the right care home for elderly with dementia and the above points can help you avoid making the wrong decision. After all, your elderly loved ones deserve time, attention and the right care. You can always rely on Senior Care Genie to make such decisions more informed and convenient for you, as we have intensive experience in caring for the elderly. We first understand the health requirements of the elderly and the expectations of the families to then help them find the right senior care services.