How to deal with Elderly Parents who have Dementia?

As a child your parents may have been your caregivers, mentors, and support system.

They were always there for you when you needed advice, had questions, or just wanted to talk.

But as your grow up, they might develop ageing health issues. They might develop a chronic disease. They might tend to be physically depended on you. Or they might tend to forget you. While these changes may be simply a part of aging, they could also be signs of something more serious, such as dementia for which you will need to seek dementia treatment centre in Mumbai.

One of the most difficult emotional traumas of life could be watching your parent develop dementia.

It is easy to lose hope when it comes to seeing your loved one forget you. You might even question if you know the person anymore.

Personality changes are among the underlying consequences of Dementia as noted by major dementia care centres in Delhi. Therefore, it gets extremely difficult to take care of any patient, especially when they are family. But we must not overthink.

To make it a little easier for you to deal with your loved one when they undergo these changes, we are here with some tips:

1. Start with Questions:

Do not assume the feelings or needs of your parent. Keep them in loop by asking them for the kind of help they want to be offered. Ask them questions like if they want you to accompany them to the doctors? Or if they are comfortable with taking daily help from you in activities like driving, bathing etc.

2. Take a nostalgia trip with them:

One of the major talk therapy elements of most of the dementia care centre in Mumbai is happy memories. Show them pictures, videos or letters or any memories of the good old days. Many a times dementia patients tend to remember things from years back, but forget the ones that happened a day back. Try to identify the things they remember, and relive it with them.

3. Stay away from negative thoughts:

Guilt of not being able to take the best care, or fear of losing them must be avoided at all costs. When you show them positivity through your words and actions, and you smile often with them, even they are reassured of their recovery.

4. Give priority to your own well - being as well:

Taking breaks to do your self- care routine activities that you require always helps and never does any harm to your parent. Don’t hesitate to talk to a close friend or trained counsellor to help you cope. Keep a track of your food schedule and fitness regimes and incorporate them during breaks

Apart from giving them mental support from your end, you might also need dementia care homes in Delhi, India. Seeking professional help proves to be a result oriented and assuring treatment plan.