Dementia refers to a global decline in cognitive capacities to such an extent that daily living of the sufferer is affected. The disease includes, but is not restricted to, memory loss. Other capacities compromised are language, communication skills, perception, judgement and reasoning. Dementia can be either reversible or irreversible. Reversible dementia has an acute onset and can be cured by treating the ‘cause’. Irreversible dementia has a more prolonged onset and doesn’t have a cure although efforts can be made to manage it. Alzheimer’s is the major cause for irreversible dementia.
Below are some ways to make coping with dementia:
Develop a routine: A routine is important as it also acts as an aid for orienting the elderly.
Do-away with distractions: Eliminate all distractions from the environment; it is important to make their living place elderly-proof.
Bear a positive demeanour: When communicating with the elderly, be careful of your tone and body language. Attempt to make them feel comfortable and loved.
Clear communication: Say exactly what you mean. A person with dementia will most have compromised capacities of abstract thinking and hence maybe unable to decipher even the most common metaphors.
Be observant: It is important to take cues from their body language as they may not always be able to communicate what they're feeling.
Be helpful but not judgemental: It is common for the elderly to be unable to recall a sentence or a word. Be patient. You may suggest but do so non-judgementally.
Demonstrate: When providing them with instructions, also demonstrate as you speak. This aids better comprehension.
Make the environment dementia-friendly: Get a digital clock instead of an analogue one, a calender where the date can be marked and put up a family chart with pictures. These simple changes go a long way in aiding the memory.
Delve into past-interests: Fish out your grand-father's favourite songs and play them for him or read him books by his favourite author.
Games are great: Try engaging the elderly in board games, card games, even computer games if they're comfortable. Even the ageold Xs and Os is a great way to stimulate the brain and jogs quite a few cognitive capacities.
Pictures and videos: Browse through old family albums and videos. Most people with Dementia still have their long-term memory more or less intact, hence this won't be stressful but will provide the much needed jog for their memory.
Watch out for stress: Do keep an eye out for any stress that they experience and try to eliminate it.
Train the staff: Sometimes the elderly might require staff to assist them in their daily chores. It is important that the staff is well-briefed about the elderly’s position. You might also have to occassionally lend an empathetic ear to the staff's problems.
While you may want to do everything under the sky for your beloved, it is important that you also monitor your own health and mental well-being. Empathy and understanding are key principles when dealing with someone who has dementia. It is important to be patient, yet observant. Helping the loved ones feel useful and competent will render them with a greater sense of happiness, autonomy and control.
(The writer is elder care specialist at Epoch Elder Care)