After a senior loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, it’s reasonable to expect a few symptoms will begin to develop over time. Though some of the symptoms are minor, others can be quite difficult to handle. Here are five of these challenging behaviors and how you can help your loved one prevent them.
1. Sundowning
As soon as the sun sets, the body should begin the process of slowly shutting down. However, some elderly people with dementia experience a condition known as sundowning, which causes increased agitation and confusion when the sun sets. One of the most effective ways to mitigate this symptom is to create a fixed daily schedule for your loved one that limits unpredictability during the afternoon and night.
The cognitive challenges that accompany dementia often leave aging adults unable to manage everyday tasks, which puts their safety and health at risk. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of in home care Frederick families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
2. Pacing & Rocking
Anxiety is common among aging adults with dementia, and seniors with the condition often respond to stressful situations by pacing, rocking, tapping their fingers, or wringing their hands. It’s important to recognize these signs early so you can remove your loved one from situations that are overstimulating. To calm your loved one down, try going on a short walk together, diverting his or her attention, or putting on some of his or her favorite music.
3. Angry Outbursts
Aggressive behavior is one of the most difficult symptoms of dementia to address. Your first goal is to ensure your loved one and everyone around him or her remains safe during an outburst. Another way to handle anger is to keep a journal of the triggers and then take steps to prevent those triggers in the future.
Symptoms such as agitation, confusion, anger, and frustration are common in elderly people with dementia. Aging in place can present a few challenges for seniors living with dementia. However, they can still live independently at home with the help of professional dementia care. Frederick families can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide their elderly loved ones with mental and social stimulation, timely medication reminders, assistance with meal prep, and much more. Our caregivers are available around the clock to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life.
4. Accusations
Being accused of wrongdoing by your loved one can be heartbreaking, and it can put an incredible amount of strain on your relationship. Dementia can make your loved one hallucinate and experience extreme bouts of paranoia. Though minor accusations can often be bypassed by distracting your loved one, a doctor must treat severe hallucinations.
5. Repeating Stories
Providing dementia care requires quite a bit of patience and empathy. When your loved one begins to repeat the same sentences and stories, the only thing you can do is smile and let it go. Trying to correct your loved one or becoming angry with him or her is only going to hurt your relationship and make your loved one confused.
Caring for a loved one with dementia is a challenging task for anyone. The responsibilities can sometimes feel overwhelming, but help is available. Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Frederick senior home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help. Call us today at (301) 798-9030 to discuss how we can give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing your loved one is being cared for with professionalism and compassion.
