Dementia care requires an understanding of the disease and knowledge on how to best care for your loved one to keep them safe.
Dementia Care: How to create a supportive environment
-providing extra security measures such as posting notes to serve as reminders (e.g. turn stove off)
-keeping the environment familiar e.g. don’t move furniture around
-establish and maintain a regular daily routine
-keeping the client oriented. (e.g clock, calendar, radio, night light)
Dementia Care: How to evaluate for home for safety and take corrective actions
-removing scatter rugs
-storing household cleaners and harmful substances in a safe place
-removing sharp & breakable objects from the environment
-using plastic eating and drinking utensils
-provide structure and routine
-schedule low-stress activities
-speak slowly and clearly to facilitate their understanding of what is being said
-provide simple explanations on everything said
-research community resources which will benefit the client
-encourage them to share their memories, as long as they can recall them
-plan physical activities, as they will offset disruptive behavior
-encourage mental activities (e.g. reading, crafts, keeping abreast with current events)
-provide the client’s basic needs
Check out our resource on how to handle specific behaviors associated with Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease for more information.
