Seniors living with dementia need to be reassured as much as possible. You can reassure your loved one by holding his or her hand, speaking in a positive tone, and using encouraging facial expressions. When done correctly, reassurance can boost your loved one’s mood and ease some of the symptoms associated with dementia. Take a look at the role reassurance plays in dementia care.
Reduces Fear
Living with dementia affects every senior differently, but fear is a common emotion many seniors experience. They no longer recognize certain people or places within their lives, which can make them feel less secure at home as well as in the outside world. However, family caregivers can reduce the amount of worry and fear their elderly loved ones are experiencing just by being reassuring. Keep in mind seniors with dementia cannot always understand what family caregivers are saying, which makes your tone of voice extremely important. You can help your loved one remain calm and less fearful by speaking with a soft tone and displaying positive expressions.
Living with a serious health condition can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional live-in care. Oakville seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more.
Boosts Confidence
Dementia can cause seniors to feel insecure and lose confidence in their abilities. They feel as if they are losing control over their lives, and they no longer trust their own judgment. It is your job to reassure your loved one during these difficult times. Treat your loved one as an adult, regardless of his or her current health. If you are positive, encouraging, and reassuring, you can teach your loved one a few methods to enhance self-esteem and boost self-confidence.
Alleviates Anxiety
Although seniors with dementia have difficulty communicating with their caregivers, they are sensitive to the mood of the home. When family caregivers are tense and less reassuring, seniors may sense these emotions and become agitated and stressed out. As a result, they may develop depression and other issues caused by high levels of anxiety. Family caregivers cannot guarantee the home will be harmonious all the time. There will be issues that fill the air with tension, but sometimes all seniors need is to be reassured. A little bit of reassurance can alleviate anxiety and boost your loved one’s mood almost instantly.
Caring for a senior loved one with dementia can be challenging, especially if this task is managed alone. Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Oakville, ON, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Home Care Assistance. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.
Leads to a Better Quality of Sleep
The inability to sleep is a behavioral issue most seniors with dementia experience. They may have difficulty going to sleep, or they may stay up all night because they sleep during the day. Reassurance is one of the simplest and most effective ways for family caregivers to help their loved ones develop better sleeping patterns. Going on a quiet walk through the neighborhood or having a nice chat with your loved one may calm him or her when it’s time for bed. Seniors with dementia who are more relaxed are more likely to understand cues and adapt better to sleeping schedules.
Seniors with dementia often require help managing the symptoms of the disease. If your senior loved one needs help managing an illness or assistance with daily tasks, make sure you choose a top-rated company of home care. Oakville, ON, Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life in the golden years. From the mentally stimulating activities in our Cognitive Therapeutics Method to our friendly Care Managers who are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, we offer a wide array of high-quality at-home care services. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your elderly loved one, call us at (905) 337-1200 today.