15 Tips for Avoiding Mistakes in Dementia Patient Care

July 14, 2024 - Reading time: 11 minutes

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be a challenging and emotional journey. As a caregiver, it's important to provide the best possible care while also avoiding common mistakes that can impact the well-being of the person you are caring for. In this blog post, we will discuss 15 essential tips for avoiding mistakes in dementia patient care.

1. Educate Yourself
   

   One of the most important things you can do as a caregiver is to educate yourself about dementia. Understanding the symptoms, progression, and best practices for care can help you provide better support for your loved one.
   
   

2. Establish a Routine
   

   Creating a consistent daily routine can help reduce confusion and anxiety for a person with dementia. Stick to regular mealtimes, bedtime routines, and activities to provide a sense of structure and familiarity.
   
   

3. Practice Patience
   

   Dementia can cause changes in behaviour and mood, which can be frustrating for both the caregiver and the patient. It's important to remain calm, patient, and understanding when dealing with challenging behaviours.
   
   

4. Ensure Safety
   

   Safety is paramount when caring for someone with dementia. Make sure the living environment is safe and secure, with measures in place to prevent falls, wandering, and other potential risks.
   
   

5. Communicate Clearly
   

   Use simple and clear language when communicating with a person with dementia. Avoid using complex sentences or asking too many questions at once, as this can lead to confusion.
   
   

6. Provide Meaningful Activities
   

   Engaging in activities that are familiar and enjoyable for the person with dementia can help improve their mood and cognitive function. Consider activities such as listening to music, doing puzzles, or going for a walk.
   
   

7.  Stop arguing
   

   Stop arguing or correcting their confusion. Rather, try to redirect the conversation or agree with their emotions. Be careful with redirection in exchange, sometimes they are fully aware of what is happening in the surroundings of which you were not aware.
   
   

8. What's the rush
   

   Avoid rushing on all counts. Explain the situation, have a calm conversation, and give direct information on what to do next. ie. Imagine that during medication you need to avoid choking when swallowing the meds, first explain what has to be done promptly. 
   
   

9. Stop blah blah blah
   

   Always keep things clear and calm in short conversations. Always respect their dignity, so do not speak to them as you would speak to a child. You could very easily have missed caring for a dementia patient at home.
   

10.  Jokes and abilities
    

    One of the most critical things to avoid with a dementia patient is underestimating their skills. Many things might go wrong in dementia patients' independent lives. Encourage them as much as possible, and when things go wrong, don't laugh at them; instead, respect their dignity. In certain circumstances, they attempt to hide it from others. Just pretend no one has seen it and don't bring it up. Again! Respect the person living with dementia. 
    
    

11. Overload
    

    Please don't give them too many options or tasks: Keep actions and decisions in check.
    
    

12.  Noise
    

    Avoid making sudden or loud noises because it could make dementia patients uncomfortable or confusing to them
     

13. Respect
    

    Respect their boundaries and give them space if necessary.
    
    

14. Leaving Alone - do not do it
    

    Avoid leaving them alone for extended periods. Supervision and companionship are essential for enhancing the dementia patient's safety and well-being.
    
    

15. Remember to be patient and sympathetic
    

    Recognise that their actions may result from their dementia.

As each dementia patient is unique, it is critical to observe and change your approach based on their requirements and preferences to avoid mistakes in care. And caring for someone with dementia at home, compassion and patience are essential.