Dealing with Your Parent’s Dementia

Dealing with Dementia

There are over 16 million Americans who are dealing with caring for their elderly loved ones living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. If you happen to be one of them, you might be one of the millions who, on a daily basis, try to deal with the unique challenges that come with taking care of someone living with this progressive illness.

You’ve seen what dementia looks like in the life of your parent, and you know that people living with dementia go through a lot.⁠ They start forgetting things that they know by heart, like directions to their favorite restaurants or how to use everyday appliances. They get confused and have a hard time resolving problems by themselves. At times, they don’t even remember where they are, where they need to go, or sadly, who they are. 

These drastic changes are difficult to deal with, causing them to become distant or have sudden emotional outbursts. And if your parent has dementia, it can certainly be quite demanding and stressful. 

There are many challenges associated with looking after someone living with an illness that affects his or her behavior, memory, and reasoning skills. What can you do to cope with these changes?

Understanding Dementia

Getting a solid grasp of the illness and what it can do to your loved one can help give you a better understanding of what it takes to look after your parent better. “It’s important to remember that dementia goes beyond forgetfulness or memory loss,” remarks Luisa Remponi, RN, BSN, MSN, AGPCNP, PSS Home Care’s Director of Patient Services.

“There are many behavioral changes associated with dementia, and it’s essential to be familiar with the signs and symptoms so that you can be prepared for them as they manifest in your loved one. These vary from person to person and can change over time,” states Remponi.

[READ: Bridging the Gap: How Open and Early Communication Can Help Detect Early Signs of Alzheimer’s, Dementia]

Expect changes in communication to manifest in your loved ones.

One of the major changes you’ll observe is in the way your parent with dementia communicates with you. They may not understand what words mean, or forget how to speak a second language, such as English. Because you know that this is one of the things that is common for dementia patients, you expect changes in communication to manifest in your loved ones.

When dealing with dementia in a parent, you’ll remember to:

• Be warm and loving, understanding that your parent is having difficulty expressing his or her thoughts verbally
• Be more conscious of your body language, your tone, and the loudness of your voice 
• Make sure that your parent still feels independent and involved in their lives by allowing them to make decisions 
• Be patient with emotional outbursts

Read up, listen to podcasts, or watch videos to further increase your knowledge about Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. “You can also talk with your family physician to know what you should expect and to help point you to good sources of information,” added Remponi. One of which is the Alzheimer’s and related Dementias Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center of the National Institute on Aging (NIA)