It is really quite a challenging task to cope with the personality changes and troubling behavior that are associated with dementia or Alzheimer’s while taking care of your near and dear one suffering from the serious issue. It is important to create a congenial environment while care giving. The environment plays a pivotal role in helping a dementia patient stay safe, cool and calm. You need to modify or completely transform the environment for reducing potential stressors which could trigger disorientation and unnecessary agitation in Alzheimer’s’ patients. The list of identified stressors would be including shadowy lighting, unidentifiable or loud noises, certain reflecting surfaces and mirrors, patterned wallpaper and gaudy colors.
You need to keep your calm and be level-headed while handling these highly stressful situations. There is no point in losing your temper or getting upset over the disturbing behavior as that could increase the victim’s anxiety and stress levels manifold. You need to show a lot of patience, wisdom, empathy, and understanding. Be relaxed and flexible to handle stressful times. If you are getting stressed out yourself, take a break and go for a change of scene. You need to cool down and relax. You simply cannot afford to lose your temper. Please click here for more details on author choice.
Managing Stress Effectively in Any Dementia or Alzheimer’s Patient
Not all the stress-reducing strategies or techniques would be effective in all patients. You need to go on experimenting to determine which technique would work best for your loved one.
Important Stress Management Guide for Alzheimer’s Patients
Devote Time to Simple Activities: Little things in life are always important. Simple everyday activities could be helpful to the patients in getting connected again to their life when things were okay. Cooking or washing vegetables, or dishwashing or other simple daily activities could leave a positive impact on the patient’s mind and could help control his unreasonable and disturbing behavior. You must involve him or her in as many everyday chores and activities as possible. You could ask your loved one to fold the laundry or water the plants or even go for a nice drive to the nearest mall etc.
Exercise Is the Key: Exercise seems to work well with these patients and their caregivers too. Exercise is a wonderful stress buster and you need to seriously include some exercise regimen in your daily routine. Studies and research reveal that regular dancing, singing, walking, doing seated exercises etc. could leave a positive impact on numerous problematic and disturbing behaviors such as wandering, becoming aggressive, sleeping issues etc. You can take your loved one to indoor shopping malls as you will get enough scope for walking in an environment protected from the weather.
Music Is a Great Relaxant: Playing the patient’s favorite kind of music or some soothing music could work wonders in calming down and uplifting the mood of someone suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Conclusion
You must boost social activity by allowing and encouraging interaction with others on a one-to-one basis. The playful interaction with pets could also prove to be fruitful in uplifting the overall mood of the patient.
