There are various ways that families, friends, and loved ones can help support residents living in Dementia care, from regular visits to helping them personalize their spaces with sentimental items. Fox Trail Memory Care Living provides memory care for residents with Dementia and other cognitive conditions in North and Central New Jersey. Here, we discuss tips for supporting a loved one in memory care, helping them to maintain a sense of normalcy.
What Is Dementia?
Dementia is a term that refers to several neurological conditions that affect the human brain, including Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is related to the brain’s inability to retain long-term memories and difficulty remembering certain events. It impacts an individual’s abilities, such as thinking, memory, reasoning, personality, mood, and behavior. Some of the signs and symptoms include:
- Repeating certain stories, comments, or questions
- Forgetting where items were left or placing them in unusual spots
- Not knowing the month, season, or year
- Having trouble remembering words
- Changing moods, behaviors, or interests
- Difficulty recalling new information or making decisions
- Getting lost in familiar places
- Experiencing hallucinations
- Worsening anxiety, confusion, depression, and/or agitation
Dementia often occurs with certain changes in specific brain regions, including a buildup of proteins and nerve cells that stop functioning properly. Some of the risk factors for Dementia include age, genetics, lifestyle choices, and long-term health conditions.
How to Support Loved Ones in Memory Care
Regular communication is essential for residents living in Dementia care. Residents also need to feel heard and emotionally supported while in memory care. Having a supportive environment around them is vital for their well-being. Along with staying in routine communication and creating an encouraging environment, family members can support their loved ones in memory care and help them feel at home by practicing a few techniques. They include:
Building a Visitation Schedule
Individuals with Dementia often face confusion, anxiety, and frustration. By building a routine schedule for visiting your loved ones, you can help them feel calmer and at ease while in new surroundings, providing a sense of relief. Finding a rhythm that works well for their current stage of Dementia is also essential when creating a visitation schedule. You can also consider:
- How often your loved one wishes you to visit
- How often you want to or can visit
- Their current routines and behavior patterns
Maintaining a steady schedule can help your loved one feel calm and positive as they are looking forward to your visit.
Keeping the Peace
Communication and peace are essential for minimizing distress in loved ones in Dementia care. Do so by staying clear of interruptions, contradictions, or corrections during conversations. Going with the flow of conversation preserves peace with your loved one during visits. Acknowledging your loved one’s feelings and emotions is also important. Another method of communication that may prove effective is redirection or gently steering the conversation toward positive topics. Keeping the peace is great for communicating with your loved one in Dementia care.
Bringing Familiar Belongings
Bringing familiar objects, such as photo albums or favorite CDs, during visits can guide conversation with loved ones and connect with them. Items can also help ground your loved ones in the moment and help them regain a sense of normalcy while in Dementia care. Discussing these items can help provide joy and connection for families and loved ones, along with preserving memories and providing a sense of comfort. You may also consider bringing items to leave in their residence, such as photographs or their favorite books, giving their new home a personalized, nostalgic touch.
The Benefits of Supporting Loved Ones in Dementia Care
Supporting loved ones in Dementia care offers numerous benefits, such as creating a sense of connection and familiarity for residents. It’s also important for their physical and mental well-being, as visits from family can boost your loved one’s mood and self-esteem and make them feel valued. Cognitive stimulation also helps slow the progression of memory loss and preserve mental capacities.
Some of the other benefits of supporting loved ones in Dementia care include:
- Reduced feelings of isolation and regular interaction that help keep the brain healthy and active
- Strengthened relationships with loved ones and families
- Additional emotional support for residents and caregivers
- Assured consistency and predictability with routines
Connecting with your loved one in memory care helps with their overall health and well-being. It also provides residents with a sense of comfort while transitioning from home into their living arrangements. Socialization and connection can be very helpful for residents in Dementia care, so maintaining a regular visitation and treatment schedule is ideal. Additionally, caregivers get some respite for their own self-care and still maintain a sense of normalcy to be able to visit their loved ones regularly.
How Fox Trail Memory Care Living Helps with Dementia Care
Our skilled team is here to help with numerous programs that help your loved one navigate the process of Dementia care. We provide Dementia management through our personal apartments offering maximum privacy and comfort, as well as layouts that support safety. Memory care residents also get access to amenities to help with their physical and mental well-being, including:
- Cable TV
- Garden and walking paths
- Home-cooked meals
- Laundry and housekeeping service
- Medication management
- Routine physician visits
- 24/7 medical assistance
Overcoming communication difficulties with your loved one requires patience, love, and compassion. Our HOPE Program provides residents with integrated medical care and individualized care plans. For more information, contact us or schedule your tour today.