Supporting a loved one with Dementia

According to Dementia UK, it’s estimated that by 2025, over one million people in the UK will be diagnosed with dementia. There are over 200 subtypes of dementia. The most common are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia and mixed dementia.

If you are a carer or a friend of someone with dementia, you can offer valuable help and support in their daily life and activities.

Living with a person with dementia involves helping them maintain their independence and quality of life while keeping them safe. You can do this by:

Communication: Understand that a person with dementia may grasp more than they can express, so always involve them in conversation. Eliminate distractions by turning off the TV or radio when communicating. Speak slowly and clearly, using simple language. Avoid posing too many questions; instead, ask yes or no questions. Maintain eye contact, listen with empathy and understanding, and do not rush or correct them. Be specific in your communication; use names instead of pronouns when discussing others. Use visual timetables with photos or images to illustrate daily tasks and activities.

Maintain routines: Try to do activities like bathing, dressing, and eating at the same time each day. Plan activities that the person enjoys and attempt to do them at consistent times daily or weekly. Help the person keep track of to-do lists, appointments, and events using a notebook or calendar. Use a visual aid like a timeline to promote routines. Have a clock close by to promote independent thinking.

Around the home: Let the person help with everyday tasks like shopping, gardening, or walking the dog. Use memory aids like labels and signs on cupboards, drawers, and doors to help the person remember where items are located. Enhance home safety by adding features like nonslip mats and locked medication boxes and ensuring that dangerous areas, such as the hob, are inaccessible. Create a playlist of their favourite songs, which can foster a calming environment and evoke happy memories.

Encouraging social activities Involve the person in social activities and events, helping them maintain their hobbies and interests. Engage in reminiscence work by discussing life experiences and sharing stories from the past, utilizing photos, objects, video, and music clips. Encourage outings in the local community, like going for a walk or visiting a café. Look for local clubs and dementia-friendly activities, such as swimming, dancing, walking sessions, or arts-based classes like drawing, painting, drama, and book clubs.

If you’re concerned about your loved one’s health or behaviour, please get in touch with their doctor.

As a carer, you can find support through Carers UK, which offers expert information and advice for unpaid caregivers, including guidance on local services, benefits, financial support, and connecting with fellow carers in their online community.

Care agencies like Papillon Home Care are here to support you. We can provide additional assistance with a carer when needed, or offer respite support to give you a much-needed break. Whether you require services on a weekly basis or occasionally, our care services are designed to help ensure your loved ones are in safe hands.

If you would like to discuss respite support, contact us today and see how Papillon can help.

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