Category: Dementia Care

Seniors with dementia may find their symptoms get worse as the condition progresses. For this reason, communication between them and the people around them may become difficult. Your senior loved one may lose his or her train of thought while speaking, use the wrong words, repeat ideas, and simply say things that don’t make sense. While it can be frustrating for both of you, the following tips can help with communication.

1. Stay Positive

Never criticize your loved one for misspeaking or losing his or her train of thought. If you don’t understand something, ask questions or repeat what your loved one said to make sure it’s what he or she meant. Avoid correcting your loved one when he or she misspeaks. While it’s easy to get mad and give up, patience can go a long way toward helping you both keep your cool.

2. Speak Normally

When an older adult has difficulty speaking, it can be tempting to change the way you talk. Some people resort to baby talk, while others may raise their voice or shout. Some may even talk about the person with dementia as if he or she is not in the room. Avoid all of these tactics. Your loved one is still a human being who deserves respect and dignity.

3. Talk Simply

Long, complicated statements and questions may be too difficult for your senior loved one to respond to. Instead, try to speak clearly and use simple words and phrases. Repeat a question if your loved one has a difficult time following it. If he or she doesn’t understand it the second time, try rewording it. Ask one question at a time. Stick to questions with easy answers. For example, instead of asking what your loved one would like to have for lunch, ask if he or she would prefer a sandwich or soup. Use familiar names and places if necessary.

Living with dementia can make it difficult for seniors to manage daily tasks. If your aging loved one needs occasional help with bathing, grooming, cooking, or other basic household tasks, or if you need time to attend to important personal matters, reach out to Senior Stride Home Care, a leading provider of live-in and respite care. Oshkosh seniors can maintain their independence while living at home with the help of our reliable respite caregivers.

4. Remove Distractions

Distractions in the room can prevent you from properly communicating with your loved one. Have other people leave the room, then close the door. Turn off TVs and radios. Use eye contact and say your loved one’s name when speaking. If necessary, let your loved one know who you are. If your loved one loses focus, find a way to get his or her attention without being forceful, such as saying his or her name again or touching his or her arm. Communicate in familiar settings whenever possible. 

Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Oshkosh Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.

5. Mind Your Body Language

Sometimes it’s not what you say but how you say it, or how you don’t say it. Pay attention to your body language when you talk to your loved one. Again, eye contact or a gentle touch on the arm may keep him or her focused. Smile, nod, and keep your facial expressions friendly and neutral. It’s also important to avoid negative body language such as sighing, rolling your eyes, or crossing your arms when frustrated. It may also help to pay attention to your loved one’s body language when he or she is talking to you.

6. Keep Talking

One mistake many people make when communicating with a senior with dementia is that they stop talking, especially if the senior can no longer use verbal communication. Talking to your loved one is an important way to show love and support. Your loved one may no longer have the ability to speak to you, but it doesn’t mean he or she doesn’t understand what you have to say.

If your senior loved one needs help managing an illness or assistance with daily tasks, make sure you choose a top-rated provider of home care. Oshkosh Senior Stride Home Care is here to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life in the golden years. From the mentally stimulating activities in our Cognitive Therapeutics Method to our friendly Care Managers who are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, we offer a wide array of high-quality at-home care services. To learn about our customized in-home care services, give us a call at 920-717-1767 today.

The elderly often experience loss of muscle tone and control and dementia causes changes in judgment. The combination of physical and neurological impairments creates cause for concern among Oshkosh caregivers and warrants a full evaluation of home safety. Read on for some practical ways to make the home setting a safer one for your senior loved one.

Remove or Limit Access to Danger Zones

Evaluate how easily your loved one can access the basement or any other level changes that include steep stairways. It is important to limit access to sharply sloped stairways due to potential hazardous fall situations. Consider installing locks, doorway gates, or even half doors.

Keep All Living Areas Well Lit

Poor lighting can also lead to falls. Use night-lights in your loved ones sleeping area and also in hallways and bathrooms. Be sure to keep up with replacing worn out bulbs. If the constant light seems to disrupt your loved ones sleep patterns, consider switching to motion sensor lights that come on as needed. Also be sure that his or her glasses are always available and that eye exams are up to date. It is advisable to keep an extra pair of glasses on hand to ensure your loved one can see where he or she is going.

Install Bathroom Safety Features

The slippery conditions that exist during bathing make fall risks a reality. Don’t rely on your own strength or existing towel bars to catch your loved one should he or she lose balance. The Alzheimer’s Association points out that bath time resistance is often a common aspect of dementia, which makes the bathroom an even riskier location. Place non-skid mats in the shower and install grab bars around the tub and toilet areas. It’s also important for Oshkosh home care providers to accompany seniors with dementia when they use the bathroom.

Kitchen Safety Tips

If your loved one seems too forgetful to use the stove alone, make sure that you or an Oshkosh dementia home care provider handles meal preparations or at least supervises them. This will prevent possible fires or accidental burns. Large, easy-to-read signs posted in the kitchen can prove helpful when remembering to turn off the stove and oven can protect your loved one, as well.

Remaining at home as long as possible is a desirable choice for most elderly people with dementia. There are many sensible ways to increase home safety and maintain comfort and dignity in the home, especially when you turn to Senior Stride Home Care of Oshkosh. We are a trusted provider of dementia and Alzheimer’s home care that enables seniors with cognitive disorders to live at home while maintaining as much independence as possible. Our highly trained caregivers offer emotional support, cognitive stimulation, and personal care assistance to enhance your loved one’s time at home. Give your loved one the care he or she deserves by calling 920-717-1767 and scheduling a no-obligation consultation today.

There are numerous benefits of playing games for seniors, especially for those who have dementia. In addition to being a great source of fun and easing the agitation brought on by the disease, games help keep senior brains active. The following games mentally stimulate seniors, help slow the progression of the disease, and come highly recommended by providers of home care Oshkosh families can trust.

Video Games

Surprisingly, video games can be useful in keeping senior brains active, even those who have dementia. While almost any game will do the trick, many companies are now marketing specific games for use by adults who need to exercise their brains. Initially, these games were geared towards adults with healthy minds, but Alzheimer’s facilities in the U.S. are finding that seniors with cognitive decline also benefit from playing these types of games. One specific computer-based game to look into is SmartBrain. The Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry reported that the game helps with attention and memory, and can even be adjusted to meet the needs of people with varying degrees of dementia.

Shake Loose a Memory

This question-based game was designed by specialists in the gerontology field to encourage and bolster memory skills. Regardless of mental abilities, it’s a game your loved one can enjoy playing with the whole family, even the grandkids. The game gently probes your senior loved one’s memory by asking him or her to remember certain events in a way that isn’t frustrating to them.

Qwirkle

This game is great because it can be played in more than one way, making it ideal for seniors at any stage of dementia. Initially, it was designed to be a game of strategy and logic. Seniors with mild dementia can play as intended to strengthen their minds and slow the progression of the disorder by thinking logically. For seniors with more advanced dementia, Qwirkle has alternate styles of play that focus more on color matching and patterns.

Card Games

From simple games like Crazy 8’s to more elaborate games like Phase 10, card games are extremely helpful for seniors with dementia. Because there are so many different card games to choose from, there is bound to be one to meet your senior loved one’s unique needs. Card games challenge the brain to make connections and remember patterns and as much as possible. These games are also fun for seniors because card games give them the option to play alone or with friends and family

Stimulating senior cognition is key to caring for an aging parent or family member with dementia. In fact, mental stimulation is important for seniors with any degenerative illness such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease. To help your loved one exercise his or her cognitive function, turn to Senior Stride Home Care. As a leading provider of Alzheimer’s, stroke, dementia, and Parkinson’s care Oshkosh families can trust, we strive to stimulate senior cognition with companionship and emotional support in the familiarity of home. Give your loved one the dementia home care he or she deserves. Call us at 920-717-1767 today to speak with a compassionate Care Manager about scheduling a free consultation.