Dealing with dementia
Updated onMartina Feichter studied biology with an elective subject pharmacy in Innsbruck and also immersed herself in the world of medicinal plants. From there it was not far to other medical topics that still captivate her to this day. She trained as a journalist at the Axel Springer Academy in Hamburg and has been working for since 2007 - first as an editor and since 2012 as a freelance writer.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.
Dealing with dementia requires a lot of understanding and patience - from relatives and caregivers as well as from those affected. Symptoms such as diminishing memory and increasing disorientation often intensify when people react to them with frustration and impatience. Read more about dealing with dementia here - the right communication, meaningful occupation for people with dementia, support in everyday life!
ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. F03F02F01G31F00G30
Dealing with dementia: tips for those affected
The diagnosis of dementia triggers fears, worries and questions in many of those affected: How long can I take care of myself? How should I deal with the increasing symptoms of dementia? What can i do to alleviate it?
In the early stages of dementia, experience has shown that those affected get along best in their everyday life if they are well informed about the disease, deal with it openly and get help if necessary.
Maintain social contacts and hobbies
In order to deal with dementia properly, it is important to stay active. Regular meetings with friends, excursions and hobbies that you had already cultivated before the diagnosis should be maintained as long as possible. Those who are active can keep what they have learned for longer and train their independence. Sufficient activity during the day also ensures a good night's sleep.
It also makes sense to take part in leisure or senior groups. In advanced stages of dementia, those affected should join a care group for dementia patients.
When planning and designing their leisure time, those affected should not overwhelm themselves: It is better to do less activities in peace than to rush from one activity to the next throughout the day.
Adjust activities and learn new things
Some dementia patients find old hobbies increasingly difficult, for example reading thick books, solving complicated puzzles or building elaborate model airplanes. The correct way to deal with dementia is not to give up such activities, but to adapt them accordingly.
For example, you can prefer to read short stories and newspaper articles, tackle easier puzzles or get lighter models with larger components.
Such activities are good brain and memory training. People with dementia should not only stick to the tried and tested, but also learn new things such as dancing, making music, painting or laying puzzles. Games for people with dementia, such as board games (possibly simplified), ball games or word games (such as guessing or adding to proverbs) are just as useful.
Structure the day
Dealing with dementia and its symptoms is easier for those affected if they structure their day well. For all activities such as sleeping, eating, washing, walking, meeting friends, doing sports, etc.you should get used to fixed times as possible. This helps with orientation and avoids stress.
Stay mobile
Dealing with dementia correctly allows many of those affected to continue running the household themselves for a long time, for example cooking, shopping, washing clothes or working in the garden. If necessary, relatives or carers can provide assistance.
Regular exercise is also beneficial for dementia. It trains the muscles, the coordination skills and the sense of balance. People with dementia should choose a sport that they can do well and that they enjoy. This can be, for example, gymnastics, swimming or dancing. It is even more fun to train together with others, for example in a sports club.
If walking and standing cause problems, walking aids and rollators can help.
Eat well and drink a lot
Failure to eat a balanced diet and drink too little can make dementia symptoms worse. A varied diet and adequate fluid intake are therefore very important.
In some patients, however, the sense of taste, the joy of eating and the appetite are lost. Strategies, on the other hand, are more intensive seasoning of the dishes and more variety on the menu. You can also distribute small bowls with pieces of fruit, vegetables and chocolate around the apartment. This tempts people with dementia to access it again and again. If you can no longer cook yourself, you can order “meals on wheels”.
The daily intake should be at least 1.5 liters, preferably in the form of soups, water, juices or tea. Here, too, it makes sense to set up beverage bottles in several places in the apartment.
Tips against forgetfulness
Dementia patients should try to keep important items that they need often (keys, wallets, glasses, etc.) in the same place. Important telephone numbers and addresses should always be close at hand, ideally both in a permanent place in the apartment and in your handbag / wallet.
Dates and appointments should be entered in a calendar.
Dealing with dementia: tips for relatives and caregivers
Relatives and carers, as well as those affected, find it easier to deal with dementia if they know about the type and possible course of the disease. There are also other tips that can improve and facilitate dealing with people with dementia.
Communicate properly
Correct communication with patients is part of good dementia care. However, this becomes increasingly difficult as the disease progresses - the patients are more and more forgetful, can no longer remember names, dates, and word meanings and often only formulate sentences slowly. This requires a lot of understanding and patience from fellow human beings.
Reminders can be helpful here: For example, you can write down information about the daily routine or answers to frequently asked questions from patients (e.g. about the day of the week, where you live, etc.) on small pieces of paper. These notes are then stuck to frequented areas such as the refrigerator or bathroom door.
Another reminder that can facilitate and promote communication in the case of dementia is a memory book. There you stick photos of important events and people from the patient's life and write a short note (type of event, name, etc.) underneath.
When talking to people with dementia, the following communication tips should be taken to heart:
- Praise the dementia patient for doing something right. Don't criticize for mistakes.
- Wait patiently until the patient answers questions or complies with a request.
- If possible, formulate questions in such a way that the patient can answer “yes” or “no”.
- Make eye contact before each interview and address the patient by name.
- Speak slowly, clearly and in short sentences.
- Avoid ironic or satirical remarks - the dementia patient usually does not understand them.
- Repeat important information several times, such as the time you want to go to a doctor's appointment or go for a walk.
- Avoid discussions.
- Ignore accusations and allegations of the dementia patient as far as possible - they are often not meant personally, but only reflect the fear, frustration and helplessness of the person concerned.
- Do not offer more than two options (for example for food or drinks) - everything else confuses people with dementia.
An important model for communication with demented people is called validation: Dementia patients are attempted to reach where they are, so to speak. You leave them in their own world and do not doubt their opinions and views. So it is about appreciation and taking seriously (= validation) of the dementia patient.
As much help as needed - no more!
When dealing with dementia patients, relatives and caregivers should be patient: When it comes to activities such as dressing, combing or watering flowers, dementia sufferers are often quite slow. Out of impatience or excessive care, relatives and carers often try to provide more help than necessary.
However, it is better not to relieve the patient of everything, but rather to give him time to do things himself. This not only trains the brain, but also prevents dementia sufferers from feeling treated like a child.
It is also not very helpful if you stand by impatiently. Then people with dementia feel put under additional pressure.
Stimulate the senses
Familiar smells from the past can awaken memories that were believed to have been lost. That could be the perfume of one's own mother or the smell of machine oil if someone with dementia used to work in a car repair shop.
Other sensory stimuli (touch, taste, see) can also stimulate dementia sufferers, bring them joy and awaken memories.
Take care of your own relief
Patience, strength, time, understanding - dealing with dementia patients is exhausting and demands a lot from relatives and caregivers. Regular rest and relief are therefore very important.
Tags: unfulfilled wish to have children healthy workplace pregnancy birth
.jpg)
