When it comes to senior care, caregivers have a challenging job. One of the most common of these challenges involves preparing seniors for a trip to the hospital, especially for those with dementia. Here are a few situations dementia caregivers are likely to encounter when taking their senior loved ones in for checkups or follow-up visits.
1. Handling Negative Behaviors
When a senior with dementia is in an unfamiliar place, it’s common for negative behaviors to escalate. For example, roaming is a serious concern if your loved one becomes confused about where he or she is. Alternatively, seniors with dementia can get angry at new doctors they don’t recognize. The key is to provide seniors with comforting items in their rooms to make them feel more like their homes.
Caring for senior loved ones 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 Assisting Hands Home Care for the help they need. We provide high-quality in-home care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
2. Preventing Falls & Injuries
Dementia can cause problems with vision and perception. Seniors with dementia may tend to underestimate the distance between beds and floors, or they may not be able to navigate through small steps in doorways. The trick is to make sure seniors always have someone by their side when they walk in the hospital so fall-related injuries can be prevented.
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 home care Fort Lauderdale families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
3. Managing Miscommunications
Long-term hospital stays may involve shift changes with new staff constantly coming into your loved one’s room. If your loved one has a serious health condition, make it a point to remind all specialists, interns, and additional physicians that your loved one has dementia. When speaking to hospital staff, always ask the staff to make a note that your loved one has dementia so they can assign their staff accordingly.
4. Providing Appropriate Pain Relief
A senior with dementia who is also in pain may not always be able to express it. Instead, the senior may act out with aggression, and hospital staff may respond by offering sedatives to keep him or her calm. Let the staff know if your loved one uses special cues for pain, such as pacing or tugging at his or her stomach. Knowing about these little clues can help the staff respond to the pain faster and with more appropriate strategies.
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. Fort Lauderdale 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. To talk to one of our friendly Care Managers and create a customized senior care plan, call us today.
