Helping a person with dementia: 10 helpful tips

Tips for helping dementia patients and improving their lives beyond therapy.

Being a caregiver is no easy task, especially when it comes to looking after the well-being of a patient with dementia.

In this article, you'll find tips on how to help a person with dementia. you'll find tips on how to help a person with dementia through a series of practical through a series of practical and useful tips that can be applied at home. The goal is to significantly reduce the level of burnout experienced by caregivers of the dementia patient.

What is dementia?

Before going on to see how to help a person with dementia, it is important to know what this disease consists of and the type of limitations and consequences it implies in the lifestyle of people and their way of thinking, feeling and behaving.

Dementia is the gradual deterioration of the cognitive functions of the brain associated with an abnormal development of the brain. associated with abnormal development of the nervous system in old age or late adulthood, involving complications of memory, thinking, and impulse regulation.

Depending on the level and type of dementia, the subject may have a total or partial loss of these cognitive functions, or even have intermittent episodes of lucidity interspersed with moments of memory loss or disconnection from reality.

Main types of dementia

There are several types of dementia, and depending on each of them the subject may present different symptoms. Let us briefly look at the most common types of dementia, and what are some of their main characteristics.

Alzheimer's dementia

This is the most common type of dementia, and it is characterized by the fact that the number of neurons begins to gradually reduce causing a loss of encephalic volume.The first warning signs are memory loss and difficulty in solving everyday problems.

2. Lewy body dementia

It represents approximately 10 to 15 % of all cases, and is characterized by small and abnormal deposits of a protein (alpha-synuclein) that generates which causes disruption between neuronal connections (synapses). The main symptoms are; memory, language, and reasoning problems.

3. Vascular dementia

This type of dementia is the result of vascular complications. Specifically, it occurs when Blood flow to the brain is reduced, occurs when blood flow to the brain is reduced due to blockages in the blood vessels.by obstructions in the blood vessels. For example, during a cerebrovascular accident (CVD). Symptoms depend on the area of the brain where the damage occurs.

How to help a person with dementia?

Here we will look at some effective ways to help someone with dementia, and to promote their quality of life.

1. Maintain communication with the doctor

The main thing is to maintain a good channel of communication with the doctor who is treating the person with dementia. who is treating the person with dementia, and to consult with him or her about any specific questions we may have regarding his or her behavior and care. It is important to remember that not all cases are the same.

2. Helping the subject to remain calm

Dementia patients are often quite prone to lose their calm, due to the confusion and memory loss they present. It is necessary that we understand their situation in an empathetic way, without being affected by the state of stress they present, and help them to remain calm. and help them to stay calm.

3. Simplify routines

A very effective way to improve the quality of life and decrease frustration levels in people with dementia is to contribute to the simplification of their daily routines.. For example, daily grooming, mealtimes, etc. The idea is to look for new ways of doing it, whereby the subjects feel less stressed.

It helps to have complete changes of clothes for each day, so that the person does not have to put too much effort into selecting their outfits. With regard to meals, it is useful to establish a relationship between each meal and something else (e.g., a sound or melody), so that the person has a clear reference that it is time to eat.

4. Maintain a frequent dialogue

Dialoguing with people helps to keep their declarative memory active, especially if we talk to the subject.Especially if we talk to the subject about anecdotes in which he/she has participated. It is important that we maintain frequent communication with the person to avoid feelings of abandonment; we can establish schedules for this.

5. Use memory games

There is a great variety of these games, which help to reduce the intensity of cognitive impairment in people with dementia.. Of course, the results depend on the degree of affection of the subject, but they are always a good alternative to extend the quality of life of patients.

6. Having familiar objects nearby

Placing familiar objects in the subject's environment helps to keep evoking memorieswhich is also helpful in reducing cognitive decline. In addition, it helps to reduce symptoms related to confusion.

7. Informing about current events

Helping the subject to be informed about current events is a way to keep him or her focused on the present and to prevent him or her from becoming confused about the present time. avoid confusion about the time in which he/she finds himself/herself..

8. Regular walks

Accompanying therapeutic walks helps the person with dementia to keep in touch with their surroundings, and contributes greatly to improving communication skills that are often affected in people with this neurological disorder.

9. Music therapy

Music therapy sessions relax and help to stimulate the cognitive processes of patients, contributing significantly to their mental stability.contributing significantly to their mental stability. When we are caring for a person with dementia, we should try to involve them in activities that help them stay calm.

10. Do not blame the person with dementia for his or her disinhibition.

Disinhibition is one of the hallmarks of dementia; many people with dementia have trouble adjusting to social norms because of damage to the parts of their brain responsible for "counteracting" the influence of the limbic system.. It is important not to blame them for this, and to understand that this is a phenomenon beyond their control.

Bibliographical references:

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• Forbes, D.; Forbes, S.C.; Blake, C.M.; Thiessen, E.J.; Forbes, S. (2015). Exercise programs for people with dementia. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Submitted manuscript). 132(4): pp. 195 - 196.
• Santos, J.L. ; García, L.I. ; Calderón, M.A. ; Sanz, L.J. ; de los Ríos, P. ; Izquierdo, S. ; Román, P. ; Hernangómez, L. ; Navas, E. ; Ladrón, A and Álvarez-Cienfuegos, L. (2012). Psicología Clínica. Manual CEDE de Preparación PIR, 02. CEDE. Madrid.