Seniors want to stay in their own home as they age, but your older parent or loved one has been diagnosed with a dementia-related illness, and you’re unsure if you can manage their care needs at home. Fortunately, at home dementia care is a growing industry in Toronto and the GTA as more families than ever before are turning to healthcare professionals who come to your or your loved one’s home. They can provide a number of valuable services that will help contribute to a better quality of life for your loved one and even help delay some of the symptoms of dementia.
Companionship
Companionship is a frequently-overlooked but important part of eldercare, especially if dementia is involved, as socializing, playing games, and telling stories are all effective ways to delay cognitive decline. While it’s well known that higher education and regularly engaging in intellectually stimulating hobbies, socialization and mentally engaging activities like games and conversations post-diagnosis can also help slow down the pace of cognitive decline. A good caregiver knows how to hold a conversation with an Alzheimer’s patient that engages their long-term memory (the last to be affected by the disease), stimulating the mind without causing them any frustration. Story-telling can be an important cognitive activity, as can puzzles, video games, chess, and a number of other games that engage the mind.
If your loved one already experiences advanced symptoms of dementia, you may want to consider finding a caregiver who can use Montessori Methods for Dementia, which care agency Mavencare explains in greater detail. According to their blog, the purpose of applying Montessori Methods for people with Alzheimer’s is to connect with the individual “behind the memory problems” and to create feelings of accomplishment and success in the individual. By using mnemonic objects, a caregiver applies an intervention called “space retrieval” that helps the patient’s long-term memory achievement, all with the goal of boosting overall satisfaction and self-esteem.
Exercise and Recreation
Physical activity is just as important as mental activity, which is why a caregiver with Mavencare will make sure your loved gets outside to do the things they love, whether that means taking a walk through their community or doing some light gardening in their yard. Recreation and physical activity are important parts of combating the likelihood of senior depression and maintaining a healthy, enjoyable life. Many seniors want to remain in their homes because they want to remain active in their community, and it’s important that they be able to get out and enjoy it as much as possible. When you enlist the help of agencies like Mavencare Toronto, you can also find a caregiver who will help with transportation, whether it’s to get to the grocery store or to a doctor’s appointment. They don’t just drop-off and pick-up, either; their caregivers help your loved one all the way through the appointment and back, so that you have nothing to worry about.
Activities of Daily Living
These refer to basic care practices such as dressing, grooming, eating, toileting, and transferring, which are all things someone suffering from advanced dementia may need assistance with. In addition to “brain maintenance,” your loved one may need help with the basics, especially in later stages, and you need a caregiver who can provide help compassionately. Find a home caregiver with an agency that delivers great care from trained professionals who love what they do.
