If you’re caring for a senior loved one with dementia, taking care of yourself is essential. Caregiving is challenging, and if you become overwhelmed, frustrated, or exhausted, you’ll be less effective in your role as caregiver. If you need help caring for your loved one, consider the following.
Adult Day Care
An adult day care center can provide you and your loved one with a structured environment in which to spend quality time. Going to an adult day care center gives your loved one a chance to interact with his or her peers while engaging in enjoyable activities, such as arts and crafts, music therapy, exercising, board games, and cooking. The adult day care environment is supervised by professionals who understand the challenges of caring for people with dementia, and these professionals are highly experienced in managing aggressive behaviors that can occur in people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. If you need to step away from your caregiver duties for a few hours or more every day, adult day care may be the right choice for you and your loved one.
Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same home care services. Families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
Support Groups
It eases the burden to share your caregiving challenges with other people who are managing issues similar to those you’re facing. Participants in caregiver support groups can share tips and ideas on how to handle caring for a loved one with dementia. You can find various caregiver support groups through local hospitals or senior community centers in your area. Not only do support groups welcome caregivers, but they also welcome seniors with dementia.
Respite Care
Respite care can give you a short-term break from caregiving. A respite caregiver can look after your loved one for a couple of days, a week, or a month—whatever schedule works best for your family. Respite caregivers can help with dressing, bathing, grooming, eating, and toileting as well as meal preparation, laundry, household chores, and grocery shopping. While respite caregivers are unable to provide medical care, they can offer assistance with medication management, exercise, and physical therapy. Caregivers are also trained to handle mood swings and negative behaviors that can occur in those with dementia.
Aging in place can present a few challenges for seniors living with dementia. However, they can still live independently at home with the help of professional dementia care. Waterloo families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide their elderly loved ones with mental and social stimulation, timely medication reminders, assistance with meal prep, and much more. Our caregivers are available around the clock to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life.
Family and Friends
When you need help, consider asking friends and family for assistance. Even if they’re unable to care for your loved one on a long-term basis, they may be able to pitch in for a few hours so you can run errands, attend meetings, or simply meet your friends for dinner and a movie. Interacting with family and friends will also allow your loved one to spend time with a variety of people and prevent social isolation. If relatives or acquaintances are unavailable to help, seek assistance from community organizations, senior centers, and social services organizations.
Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Waterloo at-home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help. Schedule a free in-home consultation by giving us a call today at (519) 954-2111.