Part 3: Ways to Reduce & Manage Mean Behavior 1. Calm the situation down The first thing to do is reduce the tension in the room. Start by limiting the distractions in the room, like turning off the TV or asking others to leave. And if you stay calm, they’re also more likely to calm down. Repeat to yourself “it’s the disease” as a reminder that they’re not intentionally doing this. If the current activity seemed to cause the agitation, try shifting to a more pleasant, calm

Part 2: Why Someone with Dementia Says Mean Things First, it’s important to understand why this hurtful behavior is happening. Dementia is a brain disease that causes parts of the brain to shrink and lose their function, resulting in cognitive impairment. These different parts control functions like memory, personality, behavior, and speech. Dementia also damages the ability to control impulses, which means actions aren’t intentional. Even though it’s difficult, do your be

Part 1 - Hurtful Things They May Say People with dementia might say hurtful things When you’re caring for an older adult with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, they might make mean comments, use hurtful words, or accuse you of terrible (but untrue) things. It’s devastating to hear, but the most important thing to remember is that their disease is causing the behavior. Your older adult isn’t purposely saying these things to hurt you. The damage in their brain is causing it. H

4 Ways a Caregiver Can Encourage a Loved One's Independence by Barry J. Jacobs, AARP Caregiving is not babysitting. Let those who can...do! During the years I provided loving care for my mother, I learned that helping her too much created its own set of problems. She was physically hampered by chronic knee and back pain; her thinking was marred by memory and language deficits caused by mild dementia. I thought it was my duty to do all I could to take care of her every need

1. Accept their limitations Avoid pushing seniors with dementia beyond their limits by expecting them to do things they’ve been struggling with. They aren’t refusing to do things because they’re lazy or refuse to remember. Their brains are failing and they’re losing the knowledge and abilities they need to accomplish those once-easy tasks. Accept where they are now. 2. Reduce complex decisions Making choices about every part of their day isn’t necessary, but there are some d

Why does dementia and anger happen? When someone has dementia, their ability to function well in the world declines. Tasks that we consider simple, like brushing teeth, are actually quite complex. To a person with dementia, it can be difficult to remember all the steps and sequence them properly. For example, these are the major steps needed to brush teeth: - Enter the correct bathroom (the one with their toothbrush) - Find switch and turn on light - Locate correct toothbr

Mike Campbell | Updated June 9, 2020 Part 5: Warning Signs Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease or Some Other Cognitive Impairment How will you know when your elderly parents need help at home? One thing is certain: your parents aren’t likely to be the ones who tell you they need a helping hand! Admitting the need for help and accepting assistance are not easy for people as they age. One way to avoid this is to start regularly monitoring your parents’ physical and mental abilities

Part 4: Physical Clues That Your Parents Are Neglecting Household Responsibilities How will you know when your elderly parents need help at home? One thing is certain: your parents aren’t likely to be the ones who tell you they need a helping hand! Admitting the need for help and accepting assistance are not easy for people as they age. One way to avoid this is to start regularly monitoring your parents’ physical and mental abilities and researching long-term care options.

Part 3: Changes in Behavior or Mental Status How will you know when your elderly parents need help at home? One thing is certain: your parents aren’t likely to be the ones who tell you they need a helping hand! Admitting the need for help and accepting assistance are not easy for people as they age. One way to avoid this is to start regularly monitoring your parents’ physical and mental abilities and researching long-term care options. This will ensure you are prepared sho

Part 2: Changes in Physical Function or Appearance That Indicate a Need for Assistance Mike Campbell | Updated June 9, 2020 How will you know when your elderly parents need help at home? One thing is certain: your parents aren’t likely to be the ones who tell you they need a helping hand! Admitting the need for help and accepting assistance are not easy for people as they age. One way to avoid this is to start regularly monitoring your parents’ physical and mental abiliti

Part I: Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Help At Home Mike Campbell | Updated June 9, 2020 How will you know when your elderly parents need help at home? One thing is certain: your parents aren’t likely to be the ones who tell you they need a helping hand! Admitting the need for help and accepting assistance are not easy for people as they age. The responsibility often falls on family members to recognize the signs that an aging loved one might need support with completing

Create a Fall-Proof Home Environment Most falls are caused by a loss of footing (tripping) and/or traction (slipping) associated with environmental hazards. An ideal, fall-proof home features even, non-slip walking surfaces throughout. While this may seem unattainable, especially for those living in multi-level residences, there are minor changes and home modifications that can reduce an elder’s fall risk. Keep all rooms free of clutter, especially the floors. Furniture shoul

by Barry J. Jacobs, AARP Caregiving is not babysitting. Let those who can...do! Many caregivers struggle with finding a balance between doing too much and too little. This is all the more complicated when a care receiver's abilities change from day to day or even hour to hour. There should be an understanding that caregivers won't take over any tasks unless they absolutely have to. But whether help is or isn't necessary is open to endless debate between earnest caregivers an

How are the ADLs Used in Senior Care? Together, ADLs and IADLs make up the skills a person generally needs to successfully and safely live independently. Therefore, a person’s ability or inability to perform ADLs and IADLs is used to gauge their need for care and/or occupational or physical therapy. Most healthcare service models use evaluations such as the Katz ADL Index to determine and evaluate their patient’s proficiencies and to then develop appropriate care plans to en

What are ADLs - Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Instrumental Activities of Daily Living or IADLs are not essential for basic functioning; however, they enable a person to live independently within a community. They’re generally more complex than basic ADLs. IADLs are made up of activities which include, but are not limited to: - Housekeeping, laundry and other home care chores - Money management - Meal preparation - Moving/changing residences - Shopping for groceries

Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living There are many ADL and IADL evaluation tools used to measure the normal changes that occur due to aging and health problems. A functional assessment providing objective data is one of the best methods of evaluating the health status of older adults to determine future decline or improvement. The Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living, generally referred to as the Katz ADL Index, is one of the best tool

What are Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)? Activities of Daily Living or ADLs is a term used by healthcare professionals to refer to the basic self-care tasks an individual does on a day-to-day basis. These activities are fundamental in caring for oneself and maintaining independence. An individual's ability or inability to perform ADLs is often used by health professionals as a way of measuring an individual’s functional status, especially that of older adults or those with

When a typical person gets up in the morning, they sit up and throw their feet over the edge of the bed. Then they stand and walk to the bathroom. They take care of toileting, then shower, brush their teeth and many other activities to prepare themselves for the day. When it comes time to think about food, they plan a menu, shop for the foods they want to eat and prepare their meals. Next, they sit down to eat. After the meal, they clean up the kitchen and wash the dishes. Al

4 ways to create a dementia friendly home by making things easier to see 1. Avoid reflective surfaces and keep lighting even Shiny or reflective surfaces on floors or tabletops can cause confusion because they create glare and shadows. Floors: stick to bare hardwood or plain carpeting. Tabletops or counters : cover with light-colored mats or tablecloths. Dark colors may seem like holes, so avoid those colors on areas you do want your older adult to use. 2. Add pictures to id