November is recognized as National Family Caregivers’ Month, so let’s honor our wonderful caregivers who offer dedicated care and support to loved ones. So, let’s acknowledge the caregivers supporting families whose loved ones are diagnosed with dementia, particularly Lewy body dementia.
In this blog post, we will provide some tips to family caregivers on how to deal with this challenging journey. Also, there will be a little emphasis on how professional assistance, such as help offered by Home Care Frederick, MD could help you out.
By the end of this blog, you will have a detailed idea of how you could improve your loved ones’ lives.
Understanding Dementia
Memory loss is quite common in the advancing years. People diagnosed with dementia, particularly Lewy body dementia, have unique challenges. However, we are going to look at it later. Let’s start by first beginning to understand what dementia is.
Dementia is a slow cognitive decline that affects the overall quality of life. This is irreversible, and the symptoms grow along with age. The cells in the brain shrink, which affects the language, speech, and cognitive abilities of an individual.
Symptoms of dementia
Since dementia is a progressive issue, several problems go side by side. In the following, we are going to look at some of the common dementia symptoms that go unnoticed.
This includes,
- Short-term memory loss
- Forgetting the activities of daily living
- Unable to remember appointments
- Not able to recognize closed ones
- Challenges in maintaining financial security
- Having challenges in traveling or doing physical activities
What is Lewy Body Dementia?
There are various kinds of dementia, for instance, dementia in Alzheimer’s disease. However, in this section, we are going to understand Lewy Body Dementia or LBD.
Due to the abnormal deposits of alpha-synuclein, there is a chemical change in the brain. This causes problems in thinking, movements, behavior, or mood changes. Sometimes, LBD is confused with other kinds of dementia.
So, it is important to understand the differences between LBD and other kinds of dementia. Speak to dementia care professionals or a healthcare provider to understand the stages of LBD symptoms.
Unfortunately, there is no identified cause for dementia with Lewy bodies because people diagnosed with LBD have no family history or genes linked to LBD.
Home Care in Frederick
You can find memory care facilities, like Frederick Memory Care, in the neighborhood that offer comprehensive support. However, some families prefer to get home care services. For instance, Home Care in Frederick, MD, offers care support and facilities to loved ones diagnosed with LBD or dementia. This allows individuals to get help for dementia care at home only, so aging in place gets easier.
Here is How Home Care in Frederick MD helps an individual:
Personalized Care Support
A home care agency offers certified caregivers and various home care services to loved ones that are tailored to meet their needs and preferences. With this approach, the families ensure that their loved ones are getting all the help they need.
So, individuals diagnosed with dementia get all the assistance that ensures their well-being and support at home. Whether they need help with medication management, activities of daily living, or any other help, home care providers are here. You can get the best caregivers at home care in Frederick.
Respite for Family Caregivers
Sometimes, family caregivers have a tough time dealing with the challenges of loved ones diagnosed with dementia. So, this gets physically and emotionally exhausting for family caregivers.
However, home care agencies provide trained caregivers to the families so that the family caregivers can get some respite and rejuvenate themselves. With home care like hospice and respite care, your dedicated family caregiver can get a temporary break.
Tips for Family Caregivers
Educate Yourself about LBD and other Dementia
It is important to learn about the differences between various kinds of dementia. This will help in better communication with the health care providers. Understand the differences and seek support accordingly.
Stay Organized
Since caregiving is a 24/7 job, it is important to stay updated. Use tools like calendars or medication organizers to stay updated on the appointments. Keep the documents, medical records, and contact information handy.
Seek Professional Support Whenever Needed
Familiarize yourself with the legal and financial affairs of your loved ones to manage your stress level. You can also create a long-term care plan with senior care advisors for your loved ones. So, don’t hesitate to seek support from professionals while planning the future.
Create a Routine for Self-Care
It is extremely important to prioritize yourself as well, so create a routine for yourself. Establishing a daily routine for you and your loved ones helps to create stability and consistency. As a result, you can manage the stress and anxiety of your loved ones too.
Learn about Communication Tips for Dementia
People diagnosed with dementia have difficulty with their language and speech abilities. So, use simple and clear sentences while communicating. Learn about the various communication strategies that help you communicate with people diagnosed with dementia.
Encourage Loved Ones to be Independent
We understand that you love to help older adults in the family, but sometimes too much help doesn’t encourage independence. Start with the tasks your loved one can do all by themselves and allow them to decide on small activities, like choosing their outfit or meals.
Remember that caregiving is a demanding job, so you need to prioritize yourself to provide the best care to your loved ones. It is a journey filled with challenges and rewarding moments, so staying informed, getting professional support, learning about communication, and getting self-care tips help you stay strong.
In this National Family Caregivers’ Month, let’s acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of family caregivers, particularly those who are taking care of loved ones diagnosed with dementia. Whether you are choosing a memory care facility or home care in Frederick, ensure that the family caregivers are getting all the assistance they require.
If you have been looking for a certified caregiver or hospice respite care services, contact Comfikare Homecare to get the best-trained certified caregivers in Frederick, MD.