Top 10 tips for caring for dementia patients

CAREWATCH Warrington is offering its top ten tips on caring for those living with dementia, to coincide with its celebration of National Dementia Carers’ Day on Sunday September 13 and World Alzheimer’s Month.
Created by a group of charities and care providers, National Dementia Carers’ Day aims to recognise those who care for the 850,000 people across the UK living with the condition, be they professional carers or relatives caring for loved ones.
Carewatch Warrington’s branch manager Ria Lyon (pictured) said: “Caring for those living with dementia is highly rewarding but can be tough.
“Unfortunately, often the outstanding work carried out by thousands of care and support workers every day goes unrecognised.
“National Dementia Carers Day is about applauding the actions of dementia carers, be they professional or personal, who perform vital roles in their local communities.”
Caring for those living with dementia can be very challenging, especially for relatives who often have to give up their jobs, change their lives to adapt and have no specialist training.
Carewatch Warrington offers its top ten practical tips:
1. People living with dementia can find direct questions intimidating, so phrase them in a concise, light hearted way. For example “steak would be nice for dinner wouldn’t it?” Speak slowly and clearly in a relaxed tone. Keep background noise such as TV to a minimum and offer plenty of encouragement to lift their mood.
2. Body language is very important so try to understand how this affects the way you communicate. Use relaxed, gentle gestures and touches and smile a lot. This will help create understanding and avoid confusion.
3. As dementia progresses, those living with the condition may need help washing and bathing, which is extremely personal and can be difficult for them to adjust to. Avoid deep water and overhead showers as these can be worrisome. Keep it positive, sensitive and use the time to chat. Encourage independence where possible.
4. As is commonly known dementia causes huge problems with memory loss, so reminisce with your loved one about their life using photographs and indirect questions, such as “your husband looks like he is enjoying his time at the beach in that picture.” This may awaken further memories.
5. Dementia causes communication problems, so try to detect moods such as interest, anxiety and pain early by studying a person’s eyes (if the condition is not causing problems with them).
6. If a person’s eyes are affected they may have trouble walking and bump into things or find things like dark door mats frightening because they resemble holes in the floor. Keep homes simple, clear and well-lit with plain carpets to improve orientation.
7. If your loved one needs help dressing this can be embarrassing for them. Give them a choice of outfits, lay these out on a plain background to avoid confusion and encourage independence wherever possible, offering small tips if they are struggling.
8. People living with dementia can experience trouble eating and drinking but a balanced diet is essential to keep them healthy. Ensure your loved one drinks enough to stay hydrated and try to stimulate their appetite  as issues such as depression and fatigue may cause someone living with the condition to turn down food.
9. Remember that caring for someone living with dementia can be hard on you too so take a break if possible and try not to blame your loved one if you feel stressed.
10. Seek help if you need it. Organisations like the Alzheimer’s Society can offer support and assistance.
Guides on caring for people living with dementia are available from Carewatch. You can request these and read a wealth of other related information by visiting http://www.carewatch.co.uk/dementia-care/.
If you are interested in further information about Carewatch Warrington, call Ria Lyon or Donna Felton on 01925 654 080.