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Deciding how to help people with dementia depends upon your individual situation, and whether you want to help a specific person or persons, or want to help those living with it in general. One of the biggest challenges most people face is the not knowing how to help, or where to start. Helping individuals with dementia can take many forms. From running errands or providing transportation to providing or seeing they receive care. In general, it's important to be respectful, calm, non-threatening and reassuring. When you need them to do something, make it less confusing by dividing it into simple steps, giving them one step at a time. How you can help depends the severity stage, and what the individual needs. Ten areas where you can help individuals are: Safety can take multiple forms. Falling is a major risk for someone with dementia. You may be able to ensure that his home has safety rails, adequate lighting, no loose rugs or other hazards to falling. Safety measures may need to be taken to make sure that he doesn't use a kitchen appliance unsupervised. When considering hazards to walking, also consider shoes. Dementia is sometimes associated with a shuffling gait, and it may not be safe to wear some footwear like high heels. The health care provider can suggest safer shoes. Memory Aids can be as simple as a large calendar or clock on the wall, although at some point reading them may become a problem. A white board with important phone numbers or information like the date is an alternative to consider. Personal care and grooming can also become an issue when the person can no longer do it alone. Showering in particular can be an issue because it's a complex process to take a shower. Or maybe the person is afraid of the shower stall or of the water. And may not be able to explain why. This fear can be severe, leading to agitation if confronted directly. Solutions include getting ready for the shower one step at a time, having a care partner help the entire process or changing to sponge baths. Eating and drinking enough can be a problem when the person no longer feels hungry. Or the food may not look appetizing on the plate. Bright colors, especially red, have been used with success in studies to get patients to eat more. Concerns with food and drink intake should be discussed with the physician. Exercise can be an issue if the person seems withdrawn. Sometimes the disease leads to prolonged sitting. Getting someone up to walk with assistance or together can help. And walking regularly has been shown to decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Encourage socialization with family, friends, a Senior Center or Memory Cafe. Isolation is one of the issues associated with many forms of dementia. Medical, Dental and Eye Care includes regular exams and being certain that medications are taken correctly. Engage in activities often leads to an increased engagement in life. This can be in activities or hobbies the person has enjoyed previously. If she can no longer actively participate, she may enjoy watching or helping someone else. One group activity that has proven helpful in dementia is croquet, with the brightly colored balls and mallets. Jiminy Wicket is an organization bringing croquet to those living with dementia, with amazing results. Plan Future Needs for living and care. This can include home care, assisted living care, nursing home care, respite care, end of life decisions and funeral arrangements. How involved you can be in this process depends upon who you are, because family members usually address these issues. You may be in a position to suggest they address them, and offer support. Support the Caregiver who needs regular breaks, both short and vacations. Too often lost in the dementia care are the caregivers who are so busy giving care that they don't see their own needs. Can you offer to pay a monthly bill? Or perhaps be the backup the utility company contacts if a bill is late or unpaid? See that household chores are done, the lawn is mowed or snow is shoveled? Maybe stay with the person with dementia while the caregiver does errands, keeps her own appointments or just gets a few hours respite. If your goals are to help helping those with dementia in general, there are many organizations that could use your support. Whether you give time, services or financial support, it likely will be welcome. While Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause, other causes also have their own organizations. You can also make an impact in your community through raising awareness, and encouraging businesses to become dementia friendly.
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