Dementia is a slowly progressing process. For a significant amount of time, the dementia patient can do many daily self-care activities. However, as time passes, they need an increasing amount of help.
However, this does not mean that dementia patients need everything done for them. In fact, it is harmful to do everything for them. It is very important to slow the progression of the disease and maintain self-worth and dignity by keeping your loved one doing as much as possible for themself for as long as possible.
Director and Cheerleader
It is difficult when your loved one can no longer do something. But do not assume that your loved one can no longer do any part of the task at hand. Instead, you may be pleasantly surprised how little help they need with the right support.
It is very important to allow your loved one to try to continue to do the things they still can do, no matter how small a part. However, it may be tricky to determine what part they need you to do for them. And it can be frustrating for both of you when you need to convince them to allow you to do something for them. The challenging thing is standing beside them as they try, and you play both parts as director and cheerleader.
Patience is the Key
It takes a lot of patience to wait for your loved one at every step of a task. However, you cannot worry about the time it takes or all the other things that need to be done. Sometimes a very small prompt or support is needed to allow the dementia patient to keep up their ability to do an activity of daily living on their own. If you are becoming stressed, do not hesitate to call for help.
Gianna Homes are experts in dementia care. Contact us today to discover both placement and in-home options available to help you.