It’s never easy to see someone close to you suffer from memory loss or dementia. Here are some tips to help you out. Don’t forget to check part 1 of this post here.

Helping A Loved One With Memory Loss or Dementia

Losing your way at home

Dementia patients may lose track of the layout of their homes and get lost in the details.

Sometimes, dementia patients may not recognize the home they live in. As dementia progresses, people with dementia may claim that they want to “go home”, even though they live at home. It could be that they don’t remember where they live at the moment.

What you can do to help

• Talk to the person if they are recalling a house that they once lived in. It may be possible to help them place it in their past.
• If they ask you to go home, assure them that you are there to help. Encourage them to share their feelings. You may be able to help them feel more comfortable by asking questions such as “What do you love about your home?”
• You should ensure that they are surrounded by familiar objects that will make them feel at home.
• To help them recall their current address, keep a reminder somewhere visible.
• You can put up signs to assist the person in forgetting the layout of their home. You can purchase dementia-friendly signs from our online store.

6. Not paying attention to upcoming events

Persons with dementia might forget about upcoming events, such as anniversaries, medical appointments, and visits. If you aren’t there to remind them, this can lead to problems.

What you can do to help

• Consider how this person remembers past events. It is more effective to use a similar method than to try to learn a different one.
• Encourage the person to use clocks and calendars to remind him or her of upcoming events. These can be placed where they are most likely to see them.
• Consider adding reminders of upcoming appointments and events to an online calendar if the person has one. This can be done using virtual assistants like Siri and Amazon Alexa.

7. Having trouble recognizing faces

As dementia progresses, the person may have trouble recognizing familiar faces and their reflections. They may feel like they are being watched over by intruders if they don’t recognize themselves or their family members. Professionals at an assisted living facility know how to deal with these cases.

Even if they don’t recognize their closest friends, they may still feel an emotional connection to them.

What you can do to help

• You can use methods to remind the person without having to mention their memory loss. For example, “Hasn’t our granddaughter grown?”
• You can help the person by reassuring them and making sure they feel comfortable and safe. They may become disoriented if they don’t recognize people.
• If they don’t recognize you, it is unlikely that they’re trying to upset or offend you. Focus on the way they are responding to you at the moment. They may smile even if they don’t recognize you.
• A person with dementia might still be able to recognize the voices and smells of others. They may be able to recognize someone by listening to their speech or even smelling their aftershave or perfume.
• It can be difficult to recognize someone you love. Talk about your feelings with someone you trust

8. Tossing aside beliefs and other aspects of identity

As dementia progresses, the person may lose or forget certain aspects of their identity or beliefs. These include religious beliefs, practices, gender identity and even if they’re vegan or not. Use what you know about the person to respect their beliefs and preferences.

What you can do to help

A person may want to eat foods they didn’t like if they forget that they once followed a certain diet. A person’s diet may change, which can impact their ability to digest food. Before they start eating these foods, consult a dietician.

Consider other aspects of worship that the person might still respond to or enjoy if they have lost touch with certain aspects of their faith. They may still like religious music or be able to feel comfortable wearing or holding symbols of their faith. A person with dementia who is LGBTQ may have memory problems and forget important aspects of their sexual identity.

Call Reflections Assisted Living at Carolina Forest now if you are looking for a facility that can assist you with a loved one who has dementia or memory loss.

Like our Facebook page for more great info about assisted living.

Reflections Assisted Living at Carolina Forest
219 Middleburg Dr
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-0700
https://www.reflectionsassistedliving.com/