Dementia, more common in older people, is a condition that affects one’s cognitive abilities. When a senior loved one is diagnosed with this, it can be stressful and overwhelming for the family. And in such a case, there may be instances wherein you might not know what to do next to make them comfortable and feel loved. And as a concerned loved one, you're likely to feel worried about how to take good care of them, especially if you have a busy schedule.
Suppose you might be wondering whether or not to place them in a senior's home for patients with dementia or have a care provider attend to them in the comfort of their home. Regardless, it's essential to note that your loved one is experiencing many challenges, and ensuring they remain close to what means a lot to them might be comforting.
While facilities for seniors with dementia have qualified caregivers, home care might have the upper hand since they can remain in their familiar territories, surrounded by familiar people. And in this article, we'll be digging deeper to know the home care benefits for seniors with dementia.
Several studies show that older adults with dementia being attended by attentive caregivers are more likely to have a better quality of life. A qualified caregiver taking care of a senior with dementia can easily recognise reactions of pain and discomfort and work immediately to improve the signs, especially since they're only attending to a single or two patients.
Caregivers can also ensure the patient stays active and continue participating in their favourite activities. Additionally, the patient can receive social supports in aged care, whereby they are taken out to meet with other patients for fun activities or something else to keep them happy.
While nursing homes can also ensure that the patients are active and comfortable, the staff may not care for every patient the way they would want. There can always be moments of waiting as others get attended to, which may not be the case when someone is cared for at home.
Among the many benefits of home care for seniors with dementia is staying in a familiar environment. They can enjoy being close to what they love while being cared for. When these patients are taken to an unfamiliar place or facility, their confusion could rise and worsen their condition.
In addition, in most cases, dementia patients find comfort in a familiar environment and personal possessions, which might be difficult in a facility, but possible while at home.
Enrolling a senior into a facility could mean partial isolation. And in some cases, you might not always have the time to visit the facility every day to see them, and if you do, it may only be briefly. And so, such situations might not be healthy for a senior with dementia, and they can only add to their misery.
Luckily, when patients receive home care, they can remain close to their loved ones and get to be around familiar faces. Even on bad days, they can be relieved to know that they're close to people whom they love. Just like how a familiar environment could be comforting for seniors with dementia, so can people. At home, the family is always there to show love and compassion, which can significantly help improve their symptoms.
Dementia patients might require sticking to a specific diet to help manage and improve their symptoms. Thanks to home care, a caregiver is always there to ensure the patient gets and feeds on what is right. They can also advise the family on what the patient shouldn't eat. Additionally, the caregiver could help ensure that the patient doesn't skip their meal, even on bad days, because they're always there to look over them.
Home care for seniors with dementia can also ensure that they keep familiar routines. When in a facility, they may have to change their habits and adopt its guidelines. Generally, everything is done at a specific time in a facility. For instance, meals are strictly served at a particular time, and so is sleeping. In some cases, activities may also be done according to a schedule.
However, when it comes to home care services, the patient can stick to what they are used to. With home care, they can get to eat at their convenience. Moreso, they can do a specific activity without being told when to and not to. It's essential to note that routine is vital for people with dementia, as this allows them to spend their day without feeling confused or lost.
Patients with dementia require utmost care and attention. With home care, the patient doesn't only get to stay close to their loved ones. They can also receive personalized care and attention, among other things.