The emotional outbursts your senior loved one with dementia displays can be upsetting for both of you. Seniors with dementia tend to act out when they want their caregivers’ attention or are feeling discomfort. You may also find there’s sometimes no obvious reason for your loved one’s challenging behavior. While you might feel like throwing your hands up in frustration, there’s a simple way to get your loved one’s behavior under control. Using the art of distraction is an effective strategy that can redirect your loved one’s attention to a new and acceptable activity.
- Sing
Music is a healing activity you can use in a variety of situations. If your loved one is agitated, play a song that’s exciting enough to capture his or her attention. Try singing one of your loved one’s classic favorites in a loud voice that can drown out any other noise. You can also get silly with it by singing slightly off-key or changing up a few of the lyrics. Whatever you do, try to make it catchy enough that your loved one starts singing along.
Aging in place can present a few challenges for seniors living with dementia. However, they can still live independently at home with the help of professional dementia care. Westminster families can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide their elderly loved ones with mental and social stimulation, timely medication reminders, assistance with meal prep, and much more. Our caregivers are available around the clock to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life.
- Change the Lighting
Agitation may be the result of being upset by something in the environment. For instance, your parent may be bothered by glare coming through a window. Your loved one might also be upset if a shadow is causing a hallucination or may just be mad that it’s too dark to see the puzzle he or she is working on. Try dimming or brightening the lights according to the situation. Just a simple change in the environment could cause your loved one to calm down.
3. Engage Your Loved One’s Sense of Humor
Seniors with dementia may also be trying to express a bad mood. You can get your loved one out of his or her funk by telling a silly joke. If you have an extra minute or two, take it a step further and show your loved one a funny video clip you find online. This strategy is so effective you might want to collect a small library of funny videos or jokes to share with your loved one. Once you get your parent laughing, you can easily transition to a new activity.
The cognitive challenges that accompany dementia often leave aging adults unable to manage everyday tasks, which puts their safety and health at risk. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of senior care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
4. Give Your Loved One a Job
Boredom is a common reason for challenging behaviors. If your loved one seems to be wanting your attention, try to find a job he or she can do alongside you. Your loved one might enjoy helping you wipe down the table before a meal, or he or she could match socks while you do laundry.
5. Switch Gears
There may be times when it’s helpful to distract your loved one with a completely different activity. Try taking your parent outside for a walk if you’ve been stuck indoors all day. Your loved one may also need to do some stretches if he or she has been sitting for a while. Take note of what your loved one is doing and find a new activity that involves opposite actions.
Caring for a loved one with dementia is a challenging task for anyone. The responsibilities can sometimes feel overwhelming, but help is available. Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted provider of home care Westminster. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today to learn more about our high-quality home care services.