Dementia is a progressive brain disease that affects memory, thinking, behavior, and communication. It’s a common condition among seniors, and it can be challenging for families and caregivers to provide appropriate care as the disease progresses.
Understanding the stages of dementia can help you provide better care to your aging loved ones.
STAGE 1: MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
Mild cognitive impairment is the early stage of dementia, where seniors may start to experience memory loss and difficulty performing familiar tasks. This stage is often characterized by forgetfulness, trouble with names, difficulty planning and organizing, and losing things. Seniors may also experience changes in mood or personality. During this stage, it’s important to encourage your loved one to stay active mentally and physically, and to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
STAGE 2: EARLY STAGE DEMENTIA
In the early stage of dementia, seniors may experience more pronounced memory loss, difficulty with communication, and challenges with performing complex tasks. They may also start to experience difficulty with self-care, such as bathing and dressing. At this stage, it’s important to help your loved one maintain their independence as much as possible. This can be achieved by encouraging them to engage in activities that they enjoy and providing support for the tasks that they find challenging.
STAGE 3: MIDDLE STAGE DEMENTIA
In the middle stage of dementia, seniors may experience significant changes in their ability to communicate, perform daily activities, and recognize familiar faces. They may also start to experience changes in their behavior, such as agitation or restlessness. It’s important to maintain a consistent routine and environment to reduce confusion and provide comfort to your loved one. It may also be helpful to seek the support of a professional caregiver or join a support group to manage the challenges of caring for someone with dementia.
STAGE 4: LATE STAGE DEMENTIA
In the late stage of dementia, seniors may lose the ability to communicate, recognize family members, and perform basic activities of daily living. At this stage, it’s important to ensure that your loved one is comfortable and receiving appropriate care. This may include palliative care to manage symptoms and improve quality of life. You may also consider seeking the support of a hospice team to provide end-of-life care.
CAREGIVING CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES FOR APPROPRIATE CARE:
Caring for a loved one with dementia can be challenging, but there are some strategies that you can use to provide appropriate care at each stage of the disease:
Maintain a consistent routine and environment to reduce confusion and anxiety.
Because dementia is a progressive memory disease, it can cause a lot of anxiety and confusion for those affected. Sticking to a predictable, consistent routine can help alleviate some of the memory loss and anxiety that your aging loved one may feel when navigating dementia.
Encourage your loved one to stay active mentally and physically, and to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Staying physically active is not only excellent for your physical health but can do wonders for your emotional and mental health as well. Going outside and taking a walk with your aging loved one, or working on a puzzle or another simple brain teaser can help reduce symptoms and help the mind continue to forge some memories and help slow down the progression of the disease. If your loved one is mobility challenged, then take them in their wheelchair or assist them in the use of their walker or other mobility aids so that they can still say somewhat active. There are many exercises that can be done, even by those who may struggle with mobility. A quick YouTube search may have the perfect low-impact exercise instructional video that could work well for your loved one.
Provide assistance and support for the tasks that your loved one finds challenging.
If you notice your loved one is getting particularly frustrated by one thing or another, help and support them while also allowing them to maintain some independence as they are able to in those tasks. For example, maybe they want to cook a meal for themselves, but due to memory or safety issues, they cannot. This can offer a good opportunity where you can help your loved one, while encouraging their independence, such as allowing them to help measure ingredients, pick a recipe or go to the store with you to pick up what you need. It also can give you an opportunity to bond over fond memories you may have had with them when you were younger, and can help jumpstart new memories and help you spend more quality time together.
Seek the support of a professional in-home caregiver or join a support group to manage the challenges of caring for someone with dementia.
Being a caregiver for an aging loved one with dementia can be difficult and frustrating. Know that you are not alone and that there are many social supports and people who are willing and able to help and reaching out to them can go a long way in maintaining your own life and self-care as well as making your loved one’s needs a priority. Find local support groups in Asheville or Hendersonville, by clicking here Here at Mountain Home Care, we also offer many respite and other in-home caregiving services to help you and your loved one through this difficult time. To learn more about our services, click here.
Ensure that your loved one is comfortable and receiving appropriate care in the late stage of the disease.
As your loved one’s dementia progresses, their health and wellness needs will change and they will eventually require a more intense level of care. There will come a point where they may not remember you, or really struggle with other symptoms of the disease such as paranoia, aggression, and sometimes forgetting how to eat, and all you will be able to do is ensure they are comfortable and do the best you can. It’s not uncommon to begin thinking of hospice care at this point. Sometimes hospice care is administered in an adult care community, a hospital, or even at home.
Understanding the stages of dementia is essential to providing appropriate care to your aging loved ones. By being aware of the symptoms and challenges of each stage, you can provide the necessary support to ensure that your loved one is safe, comfortable, and receives the appropriate care. It’s important to seek the support of healthcare professionals and other caregivers to manage the challenges of caring for someone with dementia when you need too.
With the right care and support, you can provide your loved one with the best possible quality of life during their journey with dementia!
