If your loved one is experiencing cognitive decline, there are many changes that you should expect. They may need help performing everyday functions, and they might even have mood swings triggered by boredom, confusion, or over-stimulation. To help you provide a loving, supportive, safe environment, review the following dementia care advice.

Dementia Care Tips

1. Install an Alarm System

With memory loss, your loved one might become disoriented easily and forget where they are. Trying to leave the house unattended could also be problematic, as they might not remember their address or their way home. To keep your family member safe, install an alarm system that alerts you when the doors open. To prepare for an emergency, have your loved one wear an identification bracelet with their name, address, and your phone number on it in case they get lost.

2. Curb Sleep Problems

Sundowning is a symptom of dementia that causes individuals to become confused as day transitions to night. They could toss and turn in bed as a result or wake up when it’s still dark out, thinking it’s the middle of the day. To prevent your loved one from missing crucial sleep, wake them up at the same time each day and put them to bed at the same time each night. Routine will keep them calm and help them stick to a sleep pattern.

3. Reduce Agitation

Agitation can be brought on by confusion or frustration while performing daily tasks, so try to create an environment that keeps your loved one calm. This includes being patient when they become confused and keeping common areas quiet. Also, walking up stairs might make your loved one irritable, so move their bedroom to the first floor if possible.

Dementia care is a full-time job, so enlist help from the professionals at GrandeVille Senior Living in Rochester, NY. Licensed, regulated by the New York State of Health, and serving families in the Finger Lakes region since 1979, this senior living community provides medication management, housekeeping, memory care services, activities, and prepared meals for residents. Learn more about their services online, and call (585) 621-6160 to schedule a facility tour. For more helpful advice, connect with them on Facebook.