In-Home Care for Dementia: Ensuring Quality of Life

For anyone living with Dementia, all the family members and friends around them also live with the disease. There are genuine challenges for caregivers and families. 

About 61% of seniors with Dementia in Canada live at home — and they require support while staying there.

When you think about ensuring quality of life for your loved one, they are often more comfortable in familiar surroundings with family members and where they have memories. Frequently, pets provide comfort and connection for a loved one with Dementia. When people with Dementia are away from familiar places and things, it can make them feel restless, depressed, and anxious, and this can result in their exhibiting complex behaviours.

“Canadians living with dementia want to maintain their independence; they want to live at home and engage with their community,” said Pauline Tardif, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Canada. “Comprehensive home and community care is an essential part of this equation. It helps maintain quality of life for people with Dementia while providing needed support for caregivers.”

Ensuring Quality of Life

In the early stages of Dementia, communication is paramount, as you may see changes in your senior loved ones’ thinking, memory, and logical reasoning. This can affect their daily lives and activities. Having gentle conversations on these issues and creating a sense of comfort using ‘we’ language can make the loved one feel less isolated. 

By Way Of Illustration

An example would be if your loved one with Dementia begins to wander away, rather than tell them to stop and come back, ask them questions such as, “Where are you going today?” “Can I go with you?”

They may think they are going to another city to visit a friend. You can lovingly engage with them by saying, “Maybe we should pack a bag or book a ticket to fly there,”…and invite them back into the home to do it together.

When you approach the situation in a sensible way, you avoid frustration and possible anger and return the problem to a controlled environment.

Future Care for Loved Ones

Eventually, they will need more help with simple, everyday tasks to ensure a healthy quality of life. Tasks may include personal care, such as bathing and choosing clothes for the day. Cooking and meal preparation may become challenging, so it is essential to help them maintain a sense of dignity. 

Tips that can help with daily challenges:

• Keep a bathing and dressing routine, and let them do as much as possible.
• Purchase loose-fitting, easy-to-use clothing, such as clothes with elastic waistbands, fabric fasteners, or large zipper pulls instead of shoelaces, buttons, or buckles.
• Serve meals in a familiar setting at the same time each day, and give the person enough time to eat.
• Help your loved one write to-do lists with medical appointments and activities they want to attend or enjoy. 
• Have a system or reminders for helping your loved ones take medications regularly.

Most importantly, when helping a loved one with Dementia, be gentle and respectful. Be open and transparent about what you will do, step by step, to make things more comfortable.

Being a caregiver can be extremely rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming.

Understanding the stages and caring for a person with Dementia takes time and effort. It can feel lonely and frustrating, which could be a sign you are trying to take on too much. It is crucial to find time to take care of yourself and ask for help if you feel the quality of life for you or your loved one with Dementia is in jeopardy.

In-Home Care for Dementia Clients

Promyse Home Care Comprehensive In-Home Care for Dementia Clients meet the unique needs of seniors with Dementia. 

Caregivers trained in Dementia Care focus on creating a safe, nurturing environment while helping with daily activities such as personal grooming, medication management, and cognitive exercises designed to slow the disease’s progression. 

The advantage of in-home care is its personal touch, adapting to the client’s routines and preferences, which is vital for their safety, comfort and well-being.

Talk to our Nurse to discuss if it is beneficial for you and your loved one’s mental and emotional health to have some help to ensure the quality of life for everyone involved.