Anyone who provides care for another person is referred to as a caregiver, sometimes known as a caretaker. In the United States, millions of people care for a friend or family member who has Alzheimer's disease or another dementia.
Caregivers may live with or near the person they are caring for or live far away. Caring for someone with dementia is often a team effort that involves many people sharing tasks and responsibilities.
Taking care of another person, no matter what type of caregiver you are, can be stressful. Read on to understand further the basics of dementia and Alzheimer's training and some tips that may be useful for routine duties.
Walking with a dementia patient regularly might aid with communication and avoid straying. Calming music can help with restlessness and wandering and anxiety, sleep, and behavior.
Dementia patients should have their eyes and ears examined. If issues are discovered, it may be necessary to use hearing aids or glasses or undergo cataract surgery. Dementia patients should also undergo frequent driving tests.
It will become unsafe for them to drive at some point. This might be a difficult task. Seek assistance from their provider and other members of their family. State regulations differ on a person's capacity to drive while suffering from dementia.
Meals that are supervised can aid with feeding. Dementia patients frequently forget to eat and drink, leading to dehydration.
Dementia care training of high quality can improve communication between caregivers and people living with dementia, reduce dementia-related behaviors, and raise staff work satisfaction. The Alzheimer's Association provides a variety of options for providing high-quality care as follows:
To be a good caregiver, you must be prepared for medical situations outside of normal working hours. To be certified as a caregiver, you must possess a set of attributes that allow you to offer exceptional care to a person with dementia.
When a person with dementia forgets an event, loses their wallet, forgets an appointment, or has problems paying a bill, they may get frightened or furious. A gifted caretaker will need empathy skills to lessen the frustration.
Demonstrate that you comprehend the circumstance by assisting the individual in developing a solution. If the senior loses their purse, it's critical to assist them in retracing their steps to locate it.
Suppose you want to be a better caretaker. In that case, you'll need to work on your observation skills so you can see problems like rashes, influenza, pneumonia, insomnia, blurry eyesight, or poor cleanliness. When you visit your loved one every day, conduct a physical examination.
Include additional mental or physical difficulties in your report if you see them. Since your patient may not be able to articulate what's wrong with their health, you'll need to strengthen your investigation skills before taking on a new caregiving duty.
If the person with dementia has trouble talking, you'll need to keep in touch with family and neighbors to address new health concerns. Contact the patient's doctor to resolve concerns about drugs and medical treatments.
You'll need to talk to your loved one about the necessity of taking their medicines every day or rehabilitating activities like walking or stretching after the doctor provides you instructions.
You must be able to work a flexible schedule to qualify as a caregiver. This will free you up to deal with emergencies with your loved one during the week. As a caregiver, you may be called to the house unexpectedly to assist with carrying a shipment inside or moving a piece of furniture.
Before being a caregiver, you will need to improve your adaptive qualities because you may be asked to respond to crises throughout the week, such as falls, spilled food, infections, and allergic reactions.
Dementia care involves consistent practice and ongoing learning. Understanding the basics of dementia and Alzheimer's care training is a good approach when creating a safe space for your dementia patient.Â
Learn more about the importance of dementia home care training and how achieving a good relationship with dementia care patients can make a big difference in Senior Strong.
