While around half of our aged care residents in Australia have some form of dementia, not every person with dementia lives in residential aged care.
In fact, most people with dementia live at home often for years, in the care of family and friends, most with no training.
In the early stages of dementia, most people are able to live life as they did before their diagnosis, but as the disease progresses, symptoms including confusion, memory loss and mood and personality changes can worsen.
So how can you help care for someone with dementia?
- Offer help with everyday tasks such as shopping or walking the dog.
- Put memory aids around the house to help the person remember where things are, such as labels on cupboards and drawers.
- Dementia can cause changes in what foods people like and dislike, so set aside time for meals and keep in mind their tastes may be different. People with dementia can also struggle with cutlery and tableware – there are specially designed bowls and cups available.
- Going to the toilet can be an issue for people with dementia too so put a sign on the toilet door and look out for signs that they may need to use it and consider a sensor light for night-time visits.
- Washing and bathing can cause stress as well so supply a bath seat or handheld shower and offer help if they ask for it.
- In addition, dementia can interfere with sleep patterns so keep a clock beside the bed and ensure the room is as dark as possible at night with blackout blinds.
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help from family and friends. Caring for someone with dementia at home is not easy – I supported my mother for two years at home before she went into aged care.
But there is help available. The Government’s Carers Gateway is a great resource – check it out here.
You can also find more information about supporting someone with dementia on the Dementia Australia website here.
National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500
