Being diagnosed with Lewy body dementia can lead to a series of health issues, including depression. However, as a family caregiver, you need to remain supportive and develop methods to boost your senior loved one’s mood. It’s best to know the symptoms associated with Lewy body dementia and how they impact mental, physical, and emotional health. Here are some of the ways this disease can increase the risk of depression and what you can do to prevent it.
Limits Socialization
Lewy body dementia can lead to isolation because it can cause a variety of issues, including the inability to interpret visual information, changes in behaviors and physical appearance, and memory loss. As a result, your loved one is less likely to socialize, which could increase the risk of depression. Although keeping your loved one socially active may be difficult to do, it’s not impossible. For instance, if your loved one enjoyed fishing prior to developing this disease, he or she can still go fishing but will need assistance operating the boat and fishing equipment. Customizing activities and outings to suit your loved one’s needs allows him or her to remain social, which could reduce the risk of depression.
A home caregiver can be a wonderful solution when your aging loved one needs companionship and socialization. Families looking for top-rated in-home care providers can reach out to Senior Stride Home Care. From respite care to specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care, there are many ways we can make life easier for seniors and their loved ones.
Causes Hallucinations
Seeing, hearing, smelling, and believing things that aren’t real are symptoms of hallucinations, which cause people to feel sad, hopeless, and depressed. It’s important to provide your loved one with constant care and do everything possible to control his or her hallucinations. Make sure your loved one is taking his or her medications and attending therapy sessions as instructed by a physician.
Promotes Inactivity
Staying physically active is a good way for seniors to fight off stress and anxiety. However, seniors with Lewy body dementia may have mobility issues, including lack of balance, rigid muscles, and hunched posture. Staying active reduces the risk of depression. To help your loved one remain active, encourage doing activities that aren’t strenuous on the body. Suggest simple, fun activities and exercises your loved one can do with little or no help. Engaging in physical activity can help your loved one maintain independence.
If your senior loved one needs professional in-home care in Oshkosh, Home Care Assistance is here to help. We are a trusted provider of respite and 24-hour care, and we also offer specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, and stroke care for seniors.
Disturbs Sleeping Patterns
Seniors with Lewy body dementia may experience rapid eye movement, which could cause them to act out their dreams, sometimes in a violent manner. The condition disturbs sleeping patterns and prevents the brain from clearing out toxins that impact mood and behavior. If your loved one already has anxiety and depression, lack of sleep caused by illnesses could make them worse. Your loved one can sleep better at night by avoiding exercise before bedtime and going to bed as soon as he or she is tired. Make sure the bedroom is dark and the temperature is set at a comfortable level. Your loved one should also have a nightly routine that includes a warm shower or bath at least an hour before bedtime.
Dementia can be challenging for seniors to manage, but they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional dementia care. Oshkosh seniors can benefit greatly from the Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), an activities-based program designed to promote cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. CTM is included at no additional charge with any of the in-home care plans provided by Senior Stride Home Care. Contact one of our experienced Care Managers today at 920-717-1767 to learn more about our reliable in-home care services.