23 Nov Caring for a Parent With Dementia at Home
Preparing to Care for a Parent With Dementia at Home
For many people, caring for a parent with dementia at home is the obvious decision to make. Even so, it can be a frightening prospect, especially if you haven’t been involved in caring for adults previously. Taking time to prepare yourself for the journey ahead and your role as a carer is important. It can alert you to the kinds of challenges ahead and improve the quality of the care you’re able to provide.
The care team at Francis House Homecare has come up with 5 things to consider as you take on your caring role:
1. Understand Empathy
All care is based on empathy; it’s the guiding force behind all the decisions you make. Simply put, empathy is the ability to put yourself in the shoes of the person you’re caring for. If, for example, your parent becomes confused and distressed, take a moment to consider what kind of care you would value if it were you in their place. This simple reflection helps you to understand what’s the best action to take.
2. Find Out About Dementia
Dementia is a cluster of symptoms that are the result of a decline in the brain’s functioning. There are different types of dementia that affect different parts of the brain and produce different symptoms. All dementia patients go through different stages of degeneration, each of which can last for many years. It’s helpful to know what the stages of dementia are and what behaviours to expect with each one.
3. Help is Available
However much you may want to do everything for your parent, you’ll find that you need help and support along the way. Right from the start, encourage other family members to play their part, even if it’s a weekly visit or phone call. Carers Support Groups can be really helpful as they offer an opportunity to meet others on the same journey. You might also consider home care visits to give you regular much-needed breaks.
4. Good Days and Bad Days
Every carer will tell you to make the most of the good days and accept that bad days are inevitable. This means cherishing and enjoying the moments when your parent is happy, comfortable, and able to share experiences with you. They’ll most likely come when you least expect them, so be prepared to seize the moment and stay with it.
5. Plan For The Future
It is possible for someone with dementia to remain at home, even if their symptoms are severe, but it takes careful planning. At Francis House Homecare we work with carers to help them proactively plan for each stage of their parent’s dementia symptoms. You may wish to adapt the home environment or move their bedroom downstairs to minimise the potential for confusion.
Working With Francis House Homecare
We provide specialist dementia care at all stages. Whether we’re offering regular home visits, or 24-hour respite care, we work closely and collaboratively with clients and family carers to achieve the best outcome. All our care is person-centred which means that we place the well-being of our clients at the heart of all we do.
Would you like to speak to a member of our care team about the support we can offer if you’re caring for a parent with dementia at home? Call us anytime on 01234 841808