How to deal with dementia – Comment below to win a free eye mask!
Is your mother, father, grandmother or grandfather repeating him/herself a lot? If so, he/she has a form of dementia.
What is Dementia?
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “dementia is not a specific disease. It’s an overall term that describes a group of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of cases. Vascular dementia, which occurs after a stroke, is the second most common dementia type. But there are many other conditions that can cause symptoms of dementia, including some that are reversible, such as thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies. Dementia is often incorrectly referred to as “senility” or “senile dementia,” which reflects the formerly widespread but incorrect belief that serious mental decline is a normal part of aging.”
How do you deal with Dementia?
I know a lot of friends whose parents are going through this. So when I looked up how to deal with someone who has dementia, I found a blog on Crisisprevention.com, they suggest the following:
- Speak clearly – Don’t ask an open-ended question. Let the senior give you yes or no answers.
- Be patient – Easier said than done!
- Make their environment as peaceful as possible.
- Touch — brushing his/her head or touching his/her face.
- Laugh – Try to laugh with your parent.
- Make sure he/she does physical activity – like walking or any other exercise.
It’s hard when your parent used to be one way and you want them to be back to their old selves. You want to share things going on with the grandchildren and/or great-grandchildren and you want them to understand what you are saying.
When your parent or grandparent has dementia it’s difficult to handle and puts a lot more pressure on the “caregiver.”
Have you experienced this? If so, do you have any tips or strategies you can offer? Comment below and win yourself a soothing eye mask! (If there are more than one comment, I’ll draw a winner from a hat.)
