How to deal with dementia patients

Are you interested in learning the most crucial advice on how to handle patients with dementia? This is what we will know in the following article.

The following article contains the key details on how to treat patients with dementia:

How to deal with dementia patients

How to deal with dementia patients includes following:

1. Help with daily tasks

At the beginning of the disease, the dementia patient may not need much help, but may practice his life somewhat normally, but with the progression and development of the disease , the patient’s tension and anxiety increases about his inability to remember things, follow events, or focus, and here lies the role of those around him in helping him to do so. His regular duties include:

• the shopping.
• Home and garden work.
• Place reminder stickers on cabinets, drawers, and doors.

2. Help with eating and drinking

One strategy for managing dementia patients is to ensure that they consume a healthy, balanced diet and get enough water to stay hydrated. However, many dementia patients forget to drink water, which puts them at risk for a variety of health issues like urinary tract infections, constipation, and headaches.

Or they might struggle with eating issues like not being able to identify foods, throwing up food and refusing to eat it, forgetting to eat some meals, and requesting strange foods.

The carer for the dementia patient can assist with eating and drinking by:

• Allocate enough time and sit with him at mealtimes.
• Give him his favourite food in small portions.
• If he has trouble using cutlery, prepare foods that can be eaten with hands instead of using it.
• Serve drinks in an easy-to-carry cup.
• Make sure to get regular dental checkups to prevent any oral discomfort.

3. Reducing patient confusion

To lessen confusion in a dementia patient, you can use the advice provided below, which includes the following:

• Make sure the patient is surrounded by a variety of familiar items, such as some pictures of his family.
• Try to keep the lights on at night.
• Give the patient a list of their daily responsibilities as well as some reminders or notes.
• Share with the patient your observations of his surroundings and the news.
• To help the patient communicate better and focus more clearly, walk around with them.
• Play some relaxing music; it will help you focus more, sleep better, and behave better.

4. Correct handling of anger and aggression

In addition to how to deal with dementia patients, you must follow some tips that will help you deal with tantrums in a dementia patient properly. The following are some of these advice:

• Give the patient some personal space.
• Try to avoid arguing with a person who has dementia because you will never win an argument with them.
• To diffuse anger, use a distraction strategy, such as singing along or playing music.
• Identify the source of the rage. It might be discomfort, exhaustion, hunger, overstimulation, etc. Then treat or avoid the cause.

5. Other tips

Here are some pointers to assist you in dealing with dementia patients:

• Make dinner light because heavy meals can make people more alert at night.
• Help the patient avoid substances that could worsen their anxiety and interfere with sleep, such as alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine.
• Talk to the patient and make an effort to understand how he sees the world. Give him the chance to discuss his problems and difficulties on a daily basis; this will help him feel supported.
• Create a daily routine for a dementia patient that includes things like rising at the same time every day, taking a shower in the morning, eating breakfast, and going to bed at night. This helps to reduce feelings of stress, confusion, and rage. Just be sure to introduce any changes to the routine gradually.

Advice for caregivers with dementia

How to deal with dementia patients is difficult and exhausting, and it requires you, as a caregiver, to take care of yourself and your health as well. You can accomplish this by:

1. Stick to a healthy and balanced diet.
2. Doing exercise .
3. Keep in touch with friends, relatives and other family members.
4. Make a list of important emergency contacts.

When should you visit the doctor?

The first indication that a dementia patient has another health issue is an increase in confusion. Therefore, in the event that any new signs or symptoms appear on the patient, or when the symptoms of dementia worsen, this requires a review of the specialist doctor.

For example, the appearance of certain symptoms may be evidence that a dementia patient has contracted coronavirus, which necessitates seeking immediate medical care. The following are some of these signs:

• High temperature.
• Difficulty breathing .
• New symptoms of confusion appear.
• a blue-colored appearance of the face or lips.
• Difficulty waking up or staying awake.
• Chest pain and pressure.