How to Care for Elders With Senile Dementia
Senile dementia, an incurable brain disease, affects thinking, memory, communication and behavior. Because of the brain changes associated with senile dementia, caring for these elders presents many challenges. Achieve success with knowledge, patience, planning and flexibility.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
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1
Learn all you can about senile dementia and the elder with senile dementia as well.
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Establish a routine because those with senile dementia respond best if you do things in the same time frame everyday. Because each elder with dementia is different, the time for doing everyday tasks is different. Observation determines the most successful way to establish a schedule.
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3
Keep potentially dangerous and fragile objects out of a dementia sufferer's reach.
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4
Console the elder with senile dementia by helping him cope with day-to-day challenges of not remembering things.
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5
Develop a positive attitude by having a support system so when the task of care giving is overwhelming, you have people who will help out.
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Join a local support group or become a member of an online group.
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7
Learn how to communicate, by breaking down tasks into small steps and speaking in short simple sentences. If you have to repeat something, say it the same way or simpler.
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8
Manage problem behaviors by careful observation of triggers for the unwanted behaviors. Do not take aggression against you personally. It is the disease talking, not the elder with senile dementia.
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9
Provide healthy meals and snacks. Allow the elder the opportunity to help in planning and preparing simple meals and snacks. Keep things simple. For many this is a meaningful activity.
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Engage those with senile dementia in other meaningful activities. Have them attend adult day care or provide social, mental and physical stimulation throughout the day. Elders involved in meaningful activities during the day sleep better at night and have a slower rate of mental and physical decline.
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Enjoy the company of the elder with senile dementia. He may not be the same person you once knew, but he still needs, in fact thrives on, human contact. Be supportive, caring and warm no matter what.
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Tips & Warnings
Be complimentary. Focus on the abilities that the elder with senile dementia still has. Allow ample time for a response. Go with the flow. Enter the elder's reality. Smile and laugh a lot.
Never argue Never strike out in anger or frustration
