INDUSTRY INSIGHT
A Glimpse into Caregiving for a Loved One with Dementia
HOSPICE CARE
SPONSORED CONTENT
Do you have a loved one with dementia ? Are you sad , mad , frustrated , tired and wondering why this is happening to you and your loved one ? What did anyone do to deserve this ? These feelings are all normal and unfortunately you are not alone . According to the Alzheimer ’ s Association there are 675,000 caregivers of people with dementia in Pennsylvania .
Caring for a loved one who has dementia can become extremely difficult . Dementia treats everyone different and doesn ’ t act the same in any person . Sometimes you may experience “ behaviors ” from your loved one . Behaviors are a form of communication . No matter how frustrating it is , it is important to understand that he / she is trying to tell you something . If you can start to think of behaviors as an unmet need , it is easier to understand . It could be that your loved one is hungry , thirsty , hot , cold , in pain , or may just be bored . Sometimes it could be nothing except his / her brain just getting stuck on something . It could be an unlimited number of needs and sometimes we have to act as investigators to find out what it is .
There are some things we can do to help when communicating with our loved ones :
• Call them by their name ( or if they have a nickname they ’ ve been called all their life , then use that ).
• Tell them who you are using a calm , gentle voice .
• Use short , simple sentences and speak slowly .
• It is best to have no distractions around .
• Allow enough time for them to understand what you said and find an answer . Sometimes this can take up to 90 seconds . It ’ s best to just let them think , and be silent so you don ’ t confuse them . Don ’ t ask more questions while waiting for an answer .
• No matter how bad the dementia gets , try to remember that they are adults — don ’ t talk down to them ; they are not children .
• Do your best to avoid asking a lot of questions .
• Don ’ t say “ Remember ?,” because they probably don ’ t .
• Reassure them always .
There are many ways to help make the caregiving process easier . Just remember that as long as you are doing your best and keeping your loved one ’ s best interest in mind , you are doing a great job . Don ’ t forget to take care of yourself as well .
“ People will forget what you said , people will forget what you did , but people will never forget how you made them feel .”
– Maya Angelou
Grane Hospice Care provides comfort for the Body , Mind and Soul
Hospice Care is an affirmation of life that focuses on comfort , pain-free care when a loved-one is faced with a terminal illness . We concentrate on keeping the patient and family comfortable with a team-oriented approach .
Services include :
• On Call Hospice Support 24 hours 7 days a week
• Medication and Symptom Management
• Medical Equipment Coordination
• Registered Nurse Visits
• Nurse Aide Visits
• Medical Social Services
• Spiritual Services
• Volunteer Visits
• Unlimited Bereavement Services
• Pampered Patient Program
www . granehospice . com 1-800-379-0129 260 Alpha Drive Pittsburgh , PA 15238
Melissa Chambers , CDP , is a Certified Dementia Practitioner with over 22 years in various aspects of the healthcare field . Her experience includes Ophthalmology , Family Practice , Obstetrics & Gynecology , Hospice Care , Personal Care & Assisted Living , Education , Sales & Marketing and she is an Alzheimer ’ s Association Support Group Facilitator . As the Regional Director of Educational Programs for Grane Home Health Care , Grane Hospice Care and Grane At Home , she is heading up the new division of Grane , inGraned education . She is committed to providing education to anyone who may need it , as well as ensuring excellent customer service and care to all who Grane serves .
ROSS TOWNSHIP ❘ FALL 2018 29