How to Manage Dementia Care at Home

Dementia is a condition characterized by a group of symptoms that often include memory loss, hallucinations, paranoia, agitation, personality changes, problems communicating, problems with motor skills and coordination, inappropriate behavior and an inability to reason. If your loved one has any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with her doctor as soon as possible to begin treatment. You may choose to care for your loved one at home, especially if his condition has not deteriorated too far, but Dementia is a difficult condition to cope with, for both the patient and the caregiver.

Things You'll Need

• Medications
• Ribbon
• Furniture
• Cloth
• Medical bracelet

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Instructions

• 1

  Take the patient to the doctor for periodic check-ups and medication evaluations. Some of the patient's symptoms can be treated with medications. Cholinesterase inhibitors are drugs that may be helpful for improving judgment and memory. They act by increasing a certain chemical messenger. However, side effects may include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The doctor may prescribe a cholinesterase inhibitor in conjunction with memantine, which may help to improve overall brain function.

• 2

  Maintain a stable, calming environment for the patient. A person with dementia may become agitated and frustrated when they see a sudden change in the environment, or when they are faced with a situation that they have trouble dealing with. Learn what situations may frustrate the patient and find a way to ease the problem. For example, help him by picking out clothes for him to wear, rather than expecting him to change on his own. It's also important to stick to a similar routine each day.

• 3

  Engage the patient in fun, but stress-free activities and social visits. Help him with cooking, gardening, listening to music and taking walks in the park. Social visits can keep the patient's mind active. Just make sure to let him know about these visits in advance, in case a surprise might unsettle him. (And remind him about the upcoming visit frequently.) You can also check with the local senior center for upcoming activities.

• 4

  Avoid discussing hallucinations with the patient, should they occur. Don't contradict her about her delusions or hallucinations, as this will only be frustrating for her. However, if her hallucinations are making her fearful, offer pleasant reassurances and then try to distract her with an activity.

• 5

  Try a few simple environment changes to deal with a patient who may wander. Don't worry about wandering if he'll be in a safe area of the yard. However, if wandering becomes a problem, try placing a reminder on the door. This could be a ribbon stretched across the door frame. If reminders don't work, place a piece of furniture in front of the door. You could even try draping a cloth over the doorknob to hide it. Be careful when using locks, as this could be a hazard if a fire starts.