Dementia is a type of cognitive disorder that is the result of brain damage, disease or normal aging, according to medicinenet.com. Dementia is a serious mental problem, and while it can affect any adult, it mainly targets the geriatric population. A patient diagnosed with dementia generally has a loss or lack of general mental abilities. She may forget everyday tasks, people and in some cases, who they are. People with dementia get progressively worse as time goes by and will eventually need round-the-clock care and support. Some caregivers choose to care for a dementia patient at home rather than placing them in a nursing facility.
Familiarity
One advantage to using dementia home care is the familiarity that it offers the patient. Being cared for at home is a better alternative than being taken out of comfortable surroundings. A dementia patient who is in his personal space, with access to his bedroom, keepsakes and pictures, may feel more comfortable and less agitated. When someone with dementia is taken from his comfort zone, he may feel even more confused, which could complicate his condition.
Establishing a daily routine and reinforcing it will help keep patients as healthy as possible. This means awaking, eating meals, completing personal care and getting physical activity at the same time each and every day.
Family Care
Getting family members and friends involved in the care of a dementia patient is important to her everyday health. This means having family members take turns with helping them get dressed, supervising overall personal hygiene and taking medications. Remind dementia patients of what they need to do. Praise them for what they do, repeating out loud what they have accomplished. This may help them to remember certain tasks, rather than just having someone else complete tasks for them.
Many dementia patients get more one-on-one care at home, rather than being in a facility where a medical staff may not have enough time and patience. Family members may wish to use a home health-care agency to assist with caring for their loved one. This allows for individualized care in a home-based setting. Home health can help with patient care, feeding and range-of-motion exercises.
Respite Care
Respite care is offered through churches, social service groups and many home health agencies. Respite allows a volunteer or someone medically trained to relieve a family member or caregiver. The respite worker takes over the responsibility of caring for and watching the patient. Respite care may be offered at no charge to individuals through the assistance of their church or a local social service agency.
Home health and hospice agencies also offer respite, but the patient has to qualify for services. He may require a medical referral from his primary care physician before he is able to receive any type of respite care.
