Families and caregivers face numerous difficulties when caring for a loved one with dementia. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias cause a gradual brain degeneration in dementia patients, making it harder for them to recall things, think effectively, interact with others, and take care of themselves. Dementia may also alter a person’s personality, conduct, and produce mood swings. It can be incredibly difficult to see anyone — much less a loved one — go through such a process, which is why education about the disease can be helpful in knowing what to expect and how to address it.

Geriatric specialists are commonly approached for help by family caregivers new and experienced alike. More seasoned caregivers often find that with professional help they discover more to their loved one’s illness than they initially thought, and new caregivers are able to better learn what they are getting into.

Acquiring further knowledge and training is a wise move as a family caregiver, regardless of one’s individual situation. You may better prepare for the various problems posed by Alzheimer’s and associated dementias by receiving specialized education and training, whether that’s in dealing with behavioral changes or learning how to assist someone with daily living tasks like eating, bathing, clothing, etc.

The best qualities in a dementia caregiver

Empathy

A caregiver will come across a lot of circumstances that call for empathy. When an individual with dementia misses an appointment, loses their wallet, forgets an event, or has issues with a payment, they may get nervous and frustrated. A skilled caretaker will need empathetic capabilities to be able to lessen the frustration.

Help the person devise a solution to the issue by demonstrating your understanding of the circumstance. It’s crucial to assist seniors in retracing their steps if they misplaced their pocketbooks. Or perhaps they forgot to pay a bill. Adding future invoice due dates to a calendar will help prevent this problem from coming up in the future. Creating an atmosphere that encourages recognition and remembrance is the simplest method to make seniors with dementia happy at home.

Note: Evva will be offering a robust task and routine management calendar that will allow you to account for things such as bills, medication, doctor’s appointments, and more.

Communication

Strong communication skills are crucial for caregivers for the sake of abating conflict, resentment, and anxiety. If the person with dementia has trouble speaking, you will need to find other ways to connect with them and keep in touch with friends, family, and neighbors to share any new medical concerns. If you have questions about the patient’s drugs or medical procedures, speak with their doctor.

You must be there to help your loved one understand necessary things, such as the value of taking their medication regularly or engaging in rehabilitation exercises like walking or stretching. Communicating with doctors and nurses and effectively retaining and rehashing that information will take some time and effort as well.

Note: Evva integrates with your patient or loved one’s electronic health records from different physicians to make them more accessible than ever before.

Observation

Whether you’re dealing with a patient or even a loved one, don’t automatically expect them to be open about all of their medical problems with you. People may be embarrassed to share information, or may not even be aware of newer ailments, such as a cavity, an infection, hearing loss, or visual problems. To become a better caretaker, you must learn how to recognize issues like rashes, sudden illness, pneumonia, sleeplessness, blurred eyesight, poor cleanliness, or anything else that deviates from the patient’s norm.

When you visit your loved one’s place, try to examine them physically every day. Add any new physical or mental issues you come across to your report. Before beginning your new position as a caretaker, you will need to develop your investigative skills since the patient may not be able to convey what’s wrong with their health. A competent caregiver should be able to see and pinpoint new problems to enhance a patient’s quality of life and living arrangements.

Note: Evva’s Observations feature allows you and your fellow caregivers to notate new behaviors, symptoms, or physical conditions you observe with your patient(s).

Time Management

Professional caregivers only have so much time to spend interacting with patients. You may be asked to prepare meals, check the mail, pay bills, clean the house, do laundry, administer medicine, and assess your care recipient’s health during a regular visit. An excellent caregiver will have focus, effectiveness, dependability, patience, and reliability. A good caregiver must balance talking with the patient and other responsibilities like housework, doctor visits, and cooking, even if discussing recollections and life accomplishments with patients is crucial.

Note: Evva has tools to assist you in creating a routine that works for you and your loved one.

Adaptability

Quick changes in schedule are par for the course with caregiving, so it pays to be adaptable. This will enable you to deal with emergencies involving your loved one as they arise. As a caregiver, you could be asked to make impromptu trips to the house to assist the care recipient with carrying an item or moving furniture. Before taking on the caregiver role, you should improve your capacity to adapt since you may need to handle crises throughout the week, such as falls, food spills, illnesses, and allergic reactions. It is usual for carers to be required to work outside of the typical 9 to 5 schedule to react to crises.

Note: Evva’s Care Team system works with you to assist in delegating necessary tasks to as many care team members as possible.

Positive Attitude

The attitude of the dementia patient is influenced by how the caregiver handles certain circumstances. Approach the person you are caring for at home with a cheerful disposition. Your loved one may get worried, angry, unhappy, or depressed if you have a bad attitude.

Of course, this is easier said than done. While caregiving for a loved one can be a fulfilling experience, it can also be exhausting and frustrating. That is why it is so important to prioritize your own mental health as well, whenever possible, and in whichever way you can.

Note: Evva is designed to assist you and your loved one on the caregiving journey — which means you’ll be getting guidance on how to better take care of yourself too.

It pays dividends to be able to provide your loved one with better experiences as a caretaker. Debilitating dementia symptoms, including memory loss, confusion, and hallucinations, may be present in your patient. Your attitude when you first arrive can help you influence how they live and behave.

Body language

Connected to maintaining a positive attitude to bolster your patient, body language and tone of voice around them also play a big role. Interacting with your loved ones when preparing a meal or paying a bill is critical so that they feel you care about them. It helps to keep occasional eye contact or chat with the patient while carrying out other tasks if they attempt to communicate with you while you are doing the dishes or putting the groceries away.

Where to Find Answers to Caregiving Questions

Through your loved one’s doctors and specialists

Your partner in this care journey is your loved one’s doctors, who oversee their medical treatment through dementia. As the doctor for your loved one, they can explain the disease to you, answer questions, and assist you both through any particular difficulties you may have.

Through courses and research

Carry out independent research to learn about the disease. Read books, research online, and look for nearby services like caregiver support groups. Be aware of where you are getting your information from, especially on the internet, and be sure that it is reliably sourced, such as published in a medical journal, by an experienced caregiver, or the like. Never change a patient’s medication or dosage without first checking in with their doctor, and use common sense when seeking advice.

The field of medicine’s understanding of Alzheimer’s and dementia is constantly changing.

New data, research results, and learning opportunities are always available. Evva’s team and AI works to connect you to the resources and insights you need to stay informed and ultimately provide better care — for yourself and your loved one.

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