Why the Need of Emotional Support for Dementia Patients?

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Alnicor Consulting
alnicorconsulting.com
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Why the Need of Emotional Support for Dementia
Patients?
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Dementia is a psychological condition that
impacts the brain. Across the globe, 55 million
people have dementia. Anyone suffering from the
same can have a challenging life ahead. They even
experience changes in their behavior and
emotions. Dementia patients have similar
emotional needs that they had even before the
onset of their ailment. They want to be a part of
meaningful activities and live a life free of
stress and anxiety. You may offer care to your
friend or relative in an aged care residence or
at home. But giving proper support and care may
not be very easy. Here is everything about
dementia and how you can provide emotional
support for dementia patients.
What Happens In Dementia? Wondering what exactly
happens in dementia? This is a condition in which
a person suffers a loss of cognitive functions.
These include thinking, remembering, and
reasoning. Since they have impaired cognitive
functioning, they face trouble doing their
day-to-day chores. Some people experience mild
dementia, while others go through a severe stage.
It is only the start of cognitive function
impairment at the mildest stage of dementia. But
the most severe stage leaves the person dependent
on others for the basic tasks of daily
life. Dementia is becoming more common nowadays,
all across the world. One-third of the total
population who are 85 or older might have some
type of dementia. Alzheimers disease is the most
common form of the same condition.
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• Dementia Symptoms
• Dementia symptoms show up when formerly healthy
  neurons in the brain stop functioning. They lose
  connections with other cells in the brain and
  die. Since every person loses some neurons as
  they grow older, patients suffering from dementia
  lose more.
• Depending on the form of dementia, the signs can
  be the following
• Difficulty in speaking, expressing ideas,
  interpreting, and reading and writing
• Wandering and being disoriented in a familiar
  neighborhood
• Having trouble using money wisely and paying
  debts
• Confusion, memory loss, and lapses in judgment
• Repetition of questions
• Using unfamiliar terms to describe familiar
  objects
• Loss of interest in daily activities or events
• Delusions, Hallucinations, or paranoia

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• Changes In The Behavior Of A Dementia Patient
• The condition of the person progresses with time.
  A person suffering from dementia might begin to
  behave in ways that are distressing and
  challenging. These behaviors can occur in both
  patients and those giving care. A dementia
  patient may show the following changes
• Become distrustful of others
• Follow someone around
• Shout out or scream
• Become restless or agitated
• Ask the same questions again and again
• These out-of-character behaviors may arise when
  someone has an unmet need and cannot convey it.
  They may feel
• Thirsty or hungry
• Bored or frustrated
• Misunderstood and threatened

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Caregiving Tips For Dementia Patients Are you
someone who is looking after a dementia patient?
You may be having a hard time dealing with a wide
range of emotions. Frustration, anger, guilt, and
loneliness are examples of such emotions. You
should be polite and kind to yourself. This will
let you better handle your caregiving
responsibilities. Here are some helpful
caregiving tips for dementia patients Create A
Favorable Atmosphere For Good Conversation Your
body language conveys your feelings and emotions
more effectively than what you say. So, you must
make a good first impression by talking to your
loved one nicely and courteously. To assist in
conveying your message and showing your devotion,
use facial expressions and physical touch. Also
Read How To Provide Emotional Support For HIV
Patients (Learn How)
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Acquire The Individuals Attention Keep all the
distractions at bay by turning off the television
or radio, closing the doors or curtains, or
moving to a calmer environment. Ensure you grab
the attention of your loved one before speaking.
Introduce yourself by name and relation, and keep
their attention using nonverbal cues and
touch. Listen Carefully To What They Say Show
patience while waiting for the patient to react.
It is fine to propose words if he or she is stuck
for a response. Keep an eye out for nonverbal
cues and gestures, and respond accordingly.
Always try to comprehend the meaning and emotions
that lay underneath the words. Get Rid Of The
Possible Hazards Hazards like loose carpets,
debris, and furnishings that might hinder their
way. You should also check that the living space
has good lighting and install grab bars in the
handrails on stairs or bathrooms to prevent
falls.
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Make A Comfortable Living Space A comfortable
living space can help dementia patients lessen
agitation and improve their way of living.
Maintain a fine temperature in the room and give
comfortable seats and bedding. Create a soothing
mood by using soft lighting. Aside from all the
above-mentioned, keeping the dementia patient
physically active is also crucial. Regular
physical exercise can aid in reducing wandering
and sleeplessness. It can even help them be
distracted from agitation. Let us learn the tips
to encourage physical activity.
How To Encourage Physical Activity In A Dementia
Patient? Taking part in physical exercises may
also be beneficial for a dementia sufferer.
Besides improving cognitive functioning, physical
exercises can help lessen restlessness and
aggression. On the whole, it can improve the
overall health of the person. Whenever you
decide to add a new physical activity to your
loved ones routine, take the recommendation of
an expert. Below, we have explained a few things
on how to encourage physical activity
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Start With Low-Intensity Exercises To start, you
should consider low-intensity exercises like
walking or stretching. Raise the intensity and
duration of the movement as you see your loved
one becoming comfortable. Consider Using Visual
Cues Pictures or written notes are a few
examples of visual cues. These can help dementia
patients recall the activity and make it easier
for them to take part. Make The Activities Fun
And Engaging You should decide on the activities
for your loved ones that make them joyous.
Playing music while exercising or introducing
games into their physical activities are ways to
add fun. Prioritize Social Interaction Physical
exercise can be a great place to meet new people.
Since it will boost social interaction, you
should encourage your loved one to join a group
activity. You can even ask them to exercise with
a family member or friend.
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Conclusion Offering support to a dementia
sufferer can be quite challenging. With a safe
and comfortable environment, you can ensure their
best wellness and safety. Spending time and
encouraging physical activity in their routine
can also help. Other than that, it is crucial to
educate them about dementia and other relatable
conditions. This will help you understand their
behaviors and wants. Do you want a professional
who can look after the dementia patient? Alnicor
Consulting is a trustable provider of
professional caregiving services. We offer 100
safe and fully confidential emotional support
sessions. For further details, reach out to us at
183-325-6267 or 18332111777.