A recent study conducted by the Alzheimer’s Society found that those caring for loved ones with dementia are battling with a great deal of stress and anxiety themselves.
Thankfully there is a lot of helpful advice and technology out there to help people protect their loved ones and give relatives reassurance but, as ever, it’s about knowing where to look.
Thankfully there is a lot of helpful advice and technology out there to help people protect their loved ones and give relatives reassurance but, as ever, it’s about knowing where to look.
The team at telmenow.com have shared some of the behaviours that people new to dementia should be looking out for, as well as some steps you can take to improve the safety of the surroundings of a person living with dementia.
Here are some of the challenges someone living at home with dementia may be facing and how you can help:
Malnutrition
Times of day typically start to blur as the person’s condition worsens, which means normal mealtimes disappear. It’s likely they will look for food when their body tells them they’re hungry, but if they can’t find it they’ll likely give up and go without. They may also forget to follow this intention through before they’ve been able to eat.
What can I do?
A simple thing you can do is make sure that they have enough food in the house which they are able to prepare for themselves. You could buy this yourself, or even arrange for meals to be delivered to the house regularly. If it is unsafe for relatives to use the cooker themselves make sure this is not accessible and provide well-balanced microwave meals instead.
Trips and falls
Due to day and night blurring in those living with dementia, surroundings can become unsafe for this reason alone. For example, they may get up in the middle of the night and struggle to find their way to switch the light on, which can put them at risk of a trip.
What can I do?
Make sure all floors and stairs are kept clear of obstructions as much as possible. Lights can be kept on at all times for additional peace of mind, but you can now also purchase motion sensors which detect movement and switch on the light as people approach.
Taking medication
When it comes to taking pills or any other form of medication, most of us find it easier to stick to a pattern and take what we need at the same time of day, every day, otherwise we forget. Someone living with dementia will struggle to do this and will be at risk of their condition worsening due to not taking their medication properly.
What can I do?
Pill boxes that allow you to store the correct medication under the right days have always been an option, but you can now purchase boxes with voice-recorded prompts. They will also trigger an alert to you as a relative if pills haven’t been taken at the right time, so you can take action.
Leaving appliances on or taps running
There is a real danger that someone living alone with dementia can end up leaving the hob on, or leaving the water running after washing up, for example.
What can I do?
Whilst it is very difficult to prevent these things from happening completely, carers can install safety measures such as smoke alarms, gas detecting units and flood alarms. In the event of any abnormal event an alarm will be triggered and your nearest point of contact can take action.
Leaving their home alone or at night
A person with dementia won’t typically follow the same daily rituals as time and day start to blur.
What can I do?
Keeping an eye on behavioural patterns can be helpful. Are they getting up at the same time every night and leaving the house? You may be able to use devices to find out. For example, bed and chair sensors can record which times of day people get up and for how long.
You can also purchase devices which are located on the door reminding them of the time and that they shouldn’t go out. But for when those moments do occur, a wrist watch with tracking capabilities, or a GPS and SOS device which is put in the pocket, or worn around the neck, could be life-saving. Not only can you see where your relatives are, but they can also click a button and speak to you whenever they need to.
What else can a carer do for reassurance?
Dementia is progressive which means symptoms will worsen over time, so it’s important that those living with dementia and their carers put the necessary steps in place as soon as possible. The later a piece of equipment is introduced, the harder it will be for relatives to adapt their behaviour and use it. Whichever tips and security measures apply to you, it’s important to try and introduce these as early as you can to make sure everyone gets the most benefit.
