Helping A Loved One With Dementia When They Get Confused

If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, getting confused could be one of the symptoms. If you are caring for a loved one experiencing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, we are here to help you understand how you can help them better when they get confused.

How Dementia Causes Confusion

In its earlier stages, individuals suffering from dementia may be aware of the various changes taking place in their brains. Gradually, processing what people around them are saying, making decisions, or recalling events starts taking a lot longer and becomes more difficult. In more severe stages, the sufferer may not be able to even recognize their closest friends, family members, or any other loved ones. They could feel disoriented even in their own homes and not be aware of the passage of time. As frustrating as it is for you to observe, this serious mental decline is a lot more frustrating and debilitating for them. the underlying cause of this disease is progressive damage to the brain cells, and certain living arrangements could worsen the condition – a switch in routine, living arrangement, and perceived threats.

How You Can Help

It can be painful to watch your loved one go through these changes. Being there for them is the best thing you can do, so here are a few ways you can respond when your loved one is showing signs of confusion:

• Respond calmly and briefly – Instead of overwhelming your loved one with lengthy explanations, it is better to clarify calmly in short sentences. Only elaborate when they still require more explanation.
• Offer suggestions instead of scolding – Try your best to speak in a friendly tone even when you’re frustrated. You could use sentences like: “I think she is your grandson James,” or “I thought that was a fork.”
• Don’t take it personally – Easier said than done, right? We recommend you share your experiences with others to gain more empathy for your loved one and to remind yourself that your loved one can’t help but not recall certain things.

Tips to Prevent Confusion

Monitor their daily interactions and situations to understand what part of their day you can help them with. You can’t control the world around them, but you can prepare for any potential emergencies and mitigate any accidents by removing threats from your loved one’s environment. Creating a calm environment for them where there isn’t much stimulation would be of great benefit since they can get easily overwhelmed. Avoiding sudden changes in their routine and surprises would also help your loved one feel less confused.

Why Choose Discovery Village At Westchase?

Memory-related conditions are best detected and treated early in order to slow their progression. At Discovery Village At Westchase, our residents receive round-the-clock care from professional caregivers who are trained to provide the attention and level of care that is required.

To learn more about living in Discovery Village At Westchase, feel free to contact us today!