What Support Does Your Loved One Need for Dementia?

Finding the right care — or the right care path — for your loved one diagnosed with dementia as early as possible is crucial. It's also important to understand what resources you might be able to take advantage of to support a positive, vibrant lifestyle for your loved one throughout the dementia journey.

One common consideration is whether Memory Care might be a good option for someone with dementia. Communities such as Falcons Landing provide wide-ranging support for those with dementia, as residents might be able to start with a lower-level of care, such as Assisted Living, and move to Memory Care when needed, all while maintaining access to a familiar environment and comprehensive services, that can be modified to meet current needs. 

Understanding the Disease Process

A first step in knowing what support your loved one with dementia might need is understanding the symptoms and progression of this disease. While each person, and thus each case, is unique, some common signs of dementia can include:

• Memory loss. Difficulty recalling important events or names is one of the first potential signs of dementia. Struggling with short-term memory can also be a symptom.
• Difficulty focusing or problem-solving. The cognitive impairment of dementia goes beyond memory issues and can impact problem-solving, focus, language and even, eventually, fine and major motor skills.
• Changes in mood or behavior. Signs of dementia can include mood swings, depression, anxiety, not being interested in regular activities or irritability. Often, some of these mood changes can be especially noticeable at the end of the day.
• Challenges with routine tasks. Someone in the early stages of dementia may experience difficulty in handling tasks they used to do, including paying bills, running errands, cooking appropriately or playing complex games. 

Dementia often progresses through phases. In the early stages, individuals experience mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Day-to-day living may not be severely impacted, and if you can get a diagnosis early on, you may be able to leverage interventions and support to create foundations that can become important later. Dementia then progresses through mild dementia, moderate dementia, severe dementia and end-stage dementia, with the severity of symptoms and requirements for care increasing at each stage. 

Specialized Care in Senior Living Communities 

Individuals in the early stages of dementia may be able to live on their own with some help from family or friends. Or they might choose to live in Assisted Living communities where they can access personalized care as needed. Later in the disease process, more intensive Memory Care services may be required. 

No matter what level of care someone needs, at Falcons Landing, we work to provide a person-centered approach to care that focuses on individual needs and preferences. 

Comprehensive Support Services

It's important to consider a big-picture approach to care that provides a loved one with dementia the right assistance at the right time along their journey. Some common comprehensive support services that may be necessary include:

• Assistance with ADLs. As someone enters moderate and further phases of dementia, they may have difficulty handling basic activities of daily living on their own. It's critical to provide discreet, caring support for ADLs, such as eating, dressing and bathing, in a way that upholds independence where possible and protects dignity. 
• Medication management and monitoring. Overseeing medication helps ensure someone who is struggling to remember things doesn't forget regular doses of required medicine. Caregivers and providers may also help monitor chronic disease processes, nutrition and exercise. 
• Providing cognitively stimulating activities. Socialization, mobility, and fun and engaging activities for those with dementia are all important to day-to-day care. They can help reduce and manage symptoms and even potentially slow down dementia progression. 

Innovative Approaches to Dementia Care

Technology is innovating at-home caregiving and professional approaches to dementia care in Assisted Living communities. For example, smart alarm systems can help warn caregivers if someone with dementia is out of bed in the middle of the night or has left a safe area of a home or community. This reduces the risks associated with wandering. Apps and devices also provide those with dementia tools that can help them organize life and thoughts, better manage ADLs on their own and independently communicate with others as needed. 

Family Involvement and Education

Whenever possible in a Memory Care community, regular communication and involvement with families is critical. You know your loved one better than any professional caregiver might, and it's important for people to continue to be connected to their family throughout the process. When family caregivers can join professional caregivers in providing optimal support and community for someone with dementia, the outcomes are generally better. 

At Falcons Landing, we’re here to help. If you think your loved one can benefit from any of the resources listed above, know that you are not alone. Schedule a tour to learn more about your options.