Dementia Care in Boerne: Tips from the Pros
Caring for a loved one with dementia is no easy task. It can require a large amount of compassion, respect, and patience. Our team at Visiting Angels® Boerne understands the challenges and joys that come with this type of care. Our dementia care is always available to provide the support you need and to ensure your loved one has the care they need to age in place.
Dementia can be triggered by factors, such as Alzheimer's and other biological brain disorders, making it difficult for your loved one to communicate, think in a logical and clear manner, or even take care of themselves. We have put together some helpful strategies to use when dealing with certain situations during the care of your loved one with dementia.
Tip 1: Communication
Your loved one may have trouble communicating as their dementia progresses. Remember it's just as frustrating for them as it is for you. Here are a few tips to help you make your interaction and communicating more productive:
- Be aware of your body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. Always use a positive and soothing manner, including a light touch, to help convey your message.
- Once you get your loved one's attention, keep statements and questions simple. For instance, if you are preparing a meal, place two vegetables on the counter and ask them to choose one. Getting them involved in the decision-making process allows them to continue to feel useful.
- Activities should be a series of doable steps. Encourage your loved one through each of the steps using gentle words and a soothing tone.
Tip 2: How to Handle Challenging Behavior
When your loved one needs dementia care, one of the hardest challenges may be behavior. Challenging behavior won't be easy, but our caregivers at Visiting Angels Boerne have learned the following strategies:
- Loved ones requiring care need us to accommodate their behavior, not change it. If your loved one is insistent on placing socks in a drawer in the kitchen, remove the kitchen drawer contents and allow them to do so. Tell them the specific kitchen drawer is now theirs to do with as they please.
- Look for triggers causing specific behaviors. Our care is anything but routine, but your loved one has developed a routine making them feel comfortable and safe. When your loved one's routine becomes disrupted, they can become agitated and hard to direct. Keeping them in a routine and familiar surroundings can help to curb displays of challenging behaviors.
Tip 3: Maintaining Nutritious Meals or Snacks
Your loved one's eating habits will change as their dementia progresses. At Visiting Angels Boerne, our caregivers know ensuring your loved one gets the right nutrition is important. Here are a couple of tips that may help you with this challenging part of care:
- Keep your loved one's meals and snacks as part of a daily routine, make them simple and often. Instead of the usual, "three squares a day," consider smaller portions, multiple times a day, and don't forget to hydrate with fluids, keeping diuretics such as coffee and tea to a minimum if possible.
- Join your loved one during meal times. They like the company and will often imitate your actions. Sitting down with them allows you to monitor their food and liquid intake on a daily basis.
- Offer snacks, but keep in mind your loved one's medication, weight, or health issues. Fruit may be a great go-to snack, but if they have diabetes, you may need a substitute for other healthy snacks. Always check with their doctor when it comes to diet.
How Our Dementia Care in Boerne Can Help
While Visiting Angels Boerne is happy to share these few tips, it is important to always consult your loved one's physician when providing care. Dementia care also means the need for respite care for you! Family caregivers sacrifice so much when caring for a loved one, but it is also important to seek respite as needed.
Our team consists of local caregivers who can provide a wide range of dementia care services. Whether you are seeking a care provider for your loved one or you need us to step in while you take a break from your duties, we are proud to meet your loved one's needs. Here are some of the services we offer:
- Comfort during times of confusion or disorientation
- Preparation of healthy meals
- Friendly companionship
- Light housekeeping assistance
- Running errands
- Transportation to appointments
Get Started with Visiting Angels Boerne Today
At Visiting Angels Boerne, our team is proud to serve local seniors and families with our comprehensive and compassionate care. We offer our dementia care services throughout the following areas:
- Boerne
- San Antonio
- Kerrville
- Fredericksburg
- Fair Oaks Ranch
- Bulverde
- And throughout the surrounding area
To learn more about our dementia care, contact our team at Visiting Angels Boerne today! We can help you schedule a free care consultation to get started.