The Unique Vision Problems with Dementia and How to Help The process of vision is truly fascinating. In a split second, our brains can receive and process information from our surroundings, along with the input from our other senses, memories, and thoughts. This allows us to form a percentage of what we see, making us more aware of our visual surroundings. It is amazing how our brains enable us to see the world around us. Dementia can cause various vision problems that are unique to this condition. These vision problems can affect different aspects of our visual perception. Depth and /or color perception Contrast Motion detection Peripheral vision In addition to a distorted sense of reality, seniors with dementia often experience illusions. For example, they may mistake a shadow on the ground for something harmless like a family pet, and may believe it to be an intruder. This can be challenging for our caregivers or family members. Other vision problems associated with dementia include. Misinterpreting reflections in glass or mirrors for…
”I’m Not Going!” Overcome Alzheimer’s Stubbornness With These Tips Among the many challenges of providing care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, there’s one in particular that too often goes unmentioned: the digging-in-of-the-heels when there’s a need to leave home for a medical appointment, therapy or other important activity. Experienced by many with dementia is the fear of leaving the familiar and venturing into an unknown – and due to the very nature of dementia, sadly, even the familiar can quickly become unknown. How can you overcome Alzheimer’s stubbornness and get where you need to go without further escalating the person’s distress? To help ease these battles and accomplish what needs to be done with a greater deal of peace, try these tips: Choose your battles. Is the outing negotiable? Naturally, if it’s a scheduled appointment, simply skipping that appointment isn’t the best option. If it’s possible, however, to rearrange your plans to a day when the senior might be more agreeable, by all means, do so. Choose the best…
How to Handle Mistaken Identity in Dementia You have been taking care of Mom since her dementia diagnosis. You have been working through many of the challenging symptoms. Yet one day, she looks at you and calls you by a different name – that of her husband or father or younger brother. Do you correct her, reminding her that you’re her son? Should you let it slide, pretending you didn’t notice the mistake? Or, should you just roll with it, accepting the new identity she has given you? What’s the best way to handle mistaken identity in dementia? The loss of recognition is among the more painful outcomes of dementia on loved ones. It’s hard to look into a loved one’s eyes and receive a blank stare in return, or even to be called by a different name. It is essential to set aside your own personal feelings temporarily, however, while you respond to the individual. (We will get back to your emotions in a moment!) How to Respond to Mistaken Identity in Dementia First, know that your tone or voice and attitude are infectious.…
How to Make Dementia Care More Fun and Effective Through Improv Creativity, adaptability, and lightheartedness are key ingredients to make dementia care fun and effective for both caregivers and seniors. It stands to reason then that a spontaneous activity like improvisation is an excellent way to connect and engage with someone struggling with cognitive challenges. Not only does it enable you to pivot and embrace unforeseen plot twists, but it helps you to find out more about the older adult with dementia in your care. So, How Exactly Does Improv in Dementia Care Work? The objective of improv in dementia care is to meet the person in their reality and to supply them with opportunities to express themselves in whatever way is natural and comfortable. It is about establishing an environment where the person is heard, respected, and never corrected. It requires more listening than talking, and accepting any thoughts or feelings a senior loved one would like to share. Listed here are a couple of improv activity tips to try. After you have a sense of how…
How to Overcome Dementia-Related Appetite Loss One of the joys of caring for a senior loved one is preparing a favorite meal and seeing how much pleasure it can provide. When a senior is progressing through dementia, however, mealtimes can change dramatically. More than 80% of seniors with dementia experience some type of dementia-related appetite loss or problem: changes in how food tastes or smells, swallowing problems, or forgetting how to use utensils or chew food properly, for instance. Loss of appetite for someone with dementia can be especially difficult to manage. It’s important to find ways to encourage the person to get the nutrition they need, without pushing or causing distress. Our dementia care team recommends trying the following: Exercise patience. Allow plenty of time for each meal so the person never feels rushed. Rather than a typical breakfast plate loaded with eggs, bacon, and toast, serve just one food at a time, explaining what the food is as you present it. “Here are some scrambled eggs with cheese, the…
5 Surprising Things That Make Alzheimer’s Worse Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are incredibly challenging on their own. Effectively managing dementia requires a toolbox of tactics that is ever-evolving, as the symptoms and difficulties of the disease change and progress over time. Yet even while employing the most cutting-edge dementia techniques, there’s more required to help someone you love: understanding that there are certain things that make Alzheimer’s worse, and knowing how to manage those as well. If you’re caring for someone with the disease, you need to be aware of the following potential complications and contact the person’s doctor for recommendations where applicable: Hearing impairment. Untreated age-related hearing loss is linked to a rapid decline in memory. Even something as simple and easily treated as wax buildup in the ears can worsen the effects of Alzheimer’s. Too much sugar. A sugar craving is quite common in those with dementia, but can lead to increased irritability and agitation.…
