Concerns Dementia Care Can Alleviate For Family Caregivers

Dementia

Dealing with a recent diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia can be incredibly tough for both seniors and their family members. As a family caregiver, you might be worried about how your loved one’s disease will progress and the challenges they will face in the future. You might also feel apprehensive about practicalities like home safety and finances. These worries are entirely natural and touch most families dealing with a dementia diagnosis at some stage.

How can dementia care help?

Skilled nursing facilities equipped with specialized dementia care is an option family caregivers can consider for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease or another neurocognitive condition. With dementia care support, seniors can access 24/7 memory care and activities of daily living (ADL) support from professional caregivers. These caregivers should be highly trained and experienced in meeting the unique needs of seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Here are a few common worries you might feel as a family caregiver and how skilled nursing with dementia care can help alleviate them.

Concern about managing difficult symptoms.

Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia often experience symptoms that can be challenging for both them and their family caregivers. For example, some seniors experience sundowning (intense distress and agitation around dusk). Others may have hallucinations or start to exhibit increased aggression and restlessness. These symptoms may become more common in the mid to late stages of the disease and often leave families feeling anxious, scared, unsafe, or overwhelmed. Without experience and training, it cannot be easy to know just what to do to help.

Caring for a senior with dementia and managing difficult symptoms requires skilled communication by experienced professionals. Twenty-four-hour dementia care will grant your loved one access to expertly trained and compassionate caregivers who are highly attuned to their needs. With this care, your loved one’s distress should be kept to a minimum, allowing them to enjoy the best quality of life possible alongside their condition.

Concern for your relative’s safety.

Many families worry about how to keep their loved ones safe as dementia progresses. The home environment can present a whole host of risks. In the kitchen, for example, harmful chemicals and medications may need to be safely locked away, and taps may need to be labeled “hot” and “cold” to reduce the risk of burns. If your loved one is experiencing reduced mobility or issues with vision or depth perception due to their condition, things like clutter, staircases, and bathtubs may also compromise their safety. 

On top of general safety and accessibility measures, skilled nursing facilities have provisions to benefit those with conditions like Alzheimer’s. Facilities are typically secure with locked entrances, and residents are always under the close supervision of caregivers. This supervision can effectively prevent wandering and reduce or eliminate a senior’s risk of becoming lost and confused or experiencing a fall. Dementia care communities are also physically designed to support the safety of seniors with neurocognitive conditions. For example, high contrast décor can be used to aid visual perception and prevent falls, while objects and areas may be labeled to avoid confusion.

Concern for your loved one’s quality of life. 

Seniors with dementia often have a reduced quality of life when living in their homes. A decrease in their quality of life may be more evident as their disease progresses and they become less able to live independently. Seniors living in their own homes may be at a greater risk of wandering and becoming lost, tripping and falling, having a reduced social life, or being unable to complete vital activities of daily living. The needs of seniors with dementia are often complex, and family caregivers may be unable to meet them successfully.

In a specialist dementia care facility, residents have round-the-clock access to highly trained and dedicated caregivers. These caregivers have vast knowledge and experience in caring for seniors with dementia. Every individual with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia has unique symptoms, preferred routines, personalities, and wishes, and dementia caregivers will strive to deliver the most personalized care plan possible. 

Dementia care within a skilled nursing facility also allows residents to feel fulfilled and retain a sense of purpose within a safe and supportive environment. Activities tailored to meet the needs of seniors with dementia may even be available on-site. For example, at Chapin Home, we promote self-expression through arts, crafts, and gardening and encourage socialization with our Coffee Cafes and Ladies and Men’s clubs. For our residents with advanced dementia, we have two beautiful sitting rooms offering a soothing sensory experience.

Concern for your ability to cope. 

The progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurocognitive conditions can have a marked impact on the whole family. Seeing a loved one become more distant from their former self may evoke feelings of loss or grief and anxiety about what the future holds. Moreover, providing the proper practical care for a senior with dementia can be extremely challenging without formal training.

When a senior moves to a skilled nursing community with dementia care, family caregivers are granted access to a wealth of knowledge, support, and understanding. Your loved one’s senior care community can help you find resources to boost your mental well-being and better cope with the spectrum of emotions you’re likely facing. You can also meet and connect with other families dealing with a dementia diagnosis to form a strong support network. At Chapin Home, we also offer spiritual support and pride ourselves on our compassion, strong sense of togetherness, and commitment to welcoming families into our community.

Start Your Search for Dementia Care Today

If your loved one has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, we recommend starting your search for dementia care early. Researching skilled nursing facilities in advance will allow your loved one to actively participate and find a community that appeals to their wants and needs. Arrange a tour of Chapin Home today to see our community and meet our extraordinary caregivers in person.

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