Dementia Care in Roseville: Tips from the Pros

The number of people worldwide who are living with dementia is estimated at 47 million, per the World Health Organization. Caring for a loved one with dementia is particularly challenging due to the evolving nature of the disorder. Adults with dementia have trouble communicating and may be prone to changes in personality and mood swings. Visiting Angels^® Sacramento CA is an experienced provider of dementia care. We work with families throughout Roseville, Citrus Heights, Gold River, and the surrounding areas to keep their loved ones safe at home. Dementia care professionals from Visiting Angels Sacramento can provide monitoring and support for those in Roseville with dementia and their loved ones.

Communicating with Your Loved One

Communication is the key to any relationship. That being said, communicating with a loved one who has dementia can be difficult. Building good communication skills with your loved one can make caregiving less stressful. Good communication will also enhance your ability to handle difficult situations while caring for your loved one.

Some tips from the dementia care professionals in the Roseville area from Visiting Angels Sacramento include:

• Limit noise and distractions such as radio or television
• Use your loved one's name to get their attention
• Identify yourself by name and relation and use nonverbal cues
• Ask simple questions with yes or no answers and limit choices
• Make activities a series of steps complete with visual cues
• Distract and redirect if your loved one becomes agitated
• Focus on your loved one's feelings & offer reassurance
• Talk about memories and events from the past
• Use humor to share a laugh (not at your loved one's expense)

Wandering Prevention and Safety

Safety is usually the top concern when caring for a loved one with dementia. At the top of the list of safety concerns is wandering prevention. Visiting Angels Sacramento can offer some dementia care tips for helping to prevent wandering in the Roseville area:

• Provide regular exercise to help your loved one avoid restlessness
• Try a barrier such as a "stop" sign or curtain to mask the door
• Use child-safe plastic covers on door knobs 
• Consider installing a home monitoring system or alarm
• Get your loved one a watch with GPS tracking ability
• Keep your loved one's coat, keys, and glasses put away
• Sew ID labels into your loved one's clothes
• Give neighbors a heads up and provide your phone number

If you find you need assistance providing care for a loved one with dementia, call Visiting Angels Sacramento and ask how our caregivers in Roseville can help with dementia care.