How to Care for Someone with Dementia

Caring for someone with dementia can be a rewarding, relationship-strengthening experience. However, it can also be very challenging.   Along with understanding the symptoms of dementia and the changes these bring to everyday life, you may need to begin helping your loved one with eating and bathing. As their condition progresses, you will need to increase the amount of support they need to meet their changing needs.  

In this guide, we will share our top tips on providing dementia care at home. We’ll also discuss the various dementia care support options available, from respite breaks to talking therapies.

Caring for a Loved One with Dementia at Home

In the earlier stages of dementia, most people live at home. However, they will usually require some care and assistance from their loved ones. They may misplace objects, forget things, and struggle to carry out familiar and routine day-to-day tasks.

There are many things you can do to help someone with dementia remain independent and manage their symptoms.

Routines and Memory Aids

For many types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, memory problems are one of the earliest symptoms. For example, your loved one may:

●     Forget to eat, drink or go to the toilet

●     Have trouble finding their way around the home

●     Become confused about what time it is

It’s important to encourage them to maintain a regular daily schedule. Alarms and reminders can act as useful memory aids for things like mealtimes. Having a night-time routine can also help to prevent sleep disturbances.   You can also try hanging up signs around the home. For example, labeling the bathroom door, creating a contents list for kitchen cupboards or sticking a note to the fridge to remind them to eat. Your loved one may find it useful to keep track of what they have done each day in a diary.

Helping with Everyday Tasks

Every person living with dementia is unique, and experiences different symptoms. However, dementia often results in difficulties carrying out day-to-day activities. This may be particularly noticeable with simple, everyday tasks that require multiple steps. For example:

●     Preparing food and drinks

●     Personal care tasks (e.g. bathing, dressing and going to the toilet)

●     Housework

●     Gardening

●     Shopping  

You may need to prompt or assist your loved one to allow them to complete these activities safely and effectively. Wherever possible, however, try to avoid doing everything for them - instead, provide only as much help as they need.   For example, rather than cooking for them, you could help them prepare a meal by working together and offering step-by-step instructions. This will respect their dignity and independence, and also help to keep them mentally stimulated.

Staying Active and Engaged

It’s important to encourage your loved one living with dementia to keep their mind and body engaged. Staying mentally and physically active can help to reduce symptoms and slow the condition’s progress.   There are many activities you can try together, such as:  

●     Gentle exercise classes (e.g. tai chi, yoga, swimming, walks in the park)

●     Artistic activities (e.g. painting, drawing, clay modeling)

●     Reminiscence (talking about the past and looking at old photographs)

●     Evidence-based practices such as music therapy and cognitive stimulation therapy  

Staying socially active is also important for people living with dementia. Spending time with others can help to prevent loneliness, depression and anxiety.

Seeking Help and Support

Looking after someone with dementia can be tiring emotionally and physically, especially as they start to experience more advanced symptoms. Fortunately, there is plenty of help and support available for both carers and individuals living with dementia.

Dementia Helplines

Dementia helplines are designed to provide expert advice, practical guidance and emotional reassurance for anyone who needs it. Some examples include:

●     The Alzheimer’s Society dementia support line

●     The Dementia UK Admiral Nurse helpline

●     The Age UK advice line  

There are also several online communities where carers can seek support and empathy from others, such as TIDE (Together In Dementia Everyday) and Dementia Talking Point.

Talking Therapy

If you are struggling with your mental health, talking therapies (such as counseling and psychotherapy) can be beneficial. These are available both one-on-one and in the form of support groups.

You can speak to your GP for a referral, or find a therapy provider via the NHS website. Many services are available over telephone and video call if you cannot attend in person.

Respite Breaks

Providing care for people living with dementia at home can be extremely fulfilling. However, like all full-time jobs, it is important to take breaks from time to time. This will allow you to rest, recharge and maintain your own mental health.   If possible, speak to your family and friends about helping to look after your loved one. Otherwise, it may be worth organising respite care through a home care provider or a dementia care home.

Dementia Home Care

At first, you may only need to care for a person living with dementia for a few hours a week. But as their symptoms progress, they may start to need regular support and help with more and more daily tasks.

If it is not possible to move in with your loved one, they may benefit from a regular visiting or live-in carer. Following a care needs assessment and financial assessment, the council may be able to arrange this for you.

Care Homes for Dementia

It is not always easy to decide when someone with dementia should move into a care home. However, if caring for someone living with dementia at home is becoming increasingly difficult, it may be worth considering.  When choosing a care home try and visit several times and speak to staff, residents and other family members about their experiences of the home.  Arrange to have a meal or join in an activity in the home to help you understand whether this is the right place and time for your loved one to move into a care home.  

Specialist dementia care homes are fully equipped to deal with the changes that come with living with a diagnosis of dementia. Your loved one will benefit from round-the-clock support from trained carers and nurses in a safe environment designed specifically for their needs. This can help to improve their quality of life enormously.

Discover KYN: Outstanding Residential Dementia Care

If you are looking for outstanding dementia care homes, request a KYN brochure today. We provide the highest standards of residential and nursing care in beautiful environments across the South East. 

By getting to know each resident individually, we create personalised, holistic care plans based around their unique lifestyle, needs and wishes. KYN residents also enjoy a wide programme of activities designed to stimulate the mind and body, including evidence-based practices such as art therapy. Our Dementia Lead is always on hand to provide expert guidance and support to those living with dementia. 

To learn more about our approach to dementia care, contact KYN through our online enquiry form. Alternatively, call us on +44 (0) 20 3535 1923.