Dementia can be an incredibly frightening disease. Living with somebody who has dementia layers challenges and complexities onto any everyday routine.
Whether you’re adjusting your own household for an elderly relative or making them more comfortable in their own home, getting the environment right can make a world of difference to someone who is struggling. From the decor to the details, here’s how to create a dementia-friendly home environment.
- Cut back the tech.
Firstly, it’s important to understand that someone living with dementia might be unlikely to appreciate modern technology. In their mind, they might have been cast back to a life that they experienced decades ago, where smart phones and computers simply weren’t part of everyday life.
Putting gadgets inside the house could cause feelings of confusion, anxiety or even fear as your loved ones struggles to navigate a home that simply doesn’t feel homely. Instead, try to create familiar, cosy and easy-to-navigate spaces.
To help give them a sense of familiarity, it’s best to include only the tools and gadgets that they understand. Perhaps that could be a landline telephone or an older style television, for example. Just make sure to listen if they do ask for anything specific.
- Except the unexpected
Dementia sometimes it gives people a personality that seems different to one that you have experienced before. With this often comes requests for different drinks, foods, or experiences.
Sometimes they might speak to you as though you’re someone else entirely. While this seems strange and sometimes upsetting for you, the best thing you can do is just go along with it. To help them adjust to new textures, choose quality Puréed fish meals that taste just like comfort food.
Someone with dementia might feel even more distressed if you tried to tell them that what they believe isn’t true, because their brain is giving them a different sense of reality. While it’s important to protect their safety, you should try to accommodate smaller requests and keep them feeling understood wherever possible.
- Reduce physical hazards.
Unfortunately, dementia often comes in hand with physical limitations and disabilities. It’s not uncommon for people living with dementia to suffer from limited eyesight or to be hard of hearing either.
Accessibility aids around the home could help more than you might expect, especially if your loved one doesn’t know how to explain how they’re feeling.
If they’re still physically independent, you can help by making sure there are no sudden drops or steep steps in the house. Plus, try to buffer any sharp edges and keep everything within easy reach.
It’s easy for someone with dementia to forget which light switches and buttons do what, so labelling these could help your loved one to live a more independent life. Even when it comes to the little things, every effort counts.
Looking after yourself
Finally, don’t underestimate your dedication.
Living with someone who has dementia can involve a lot of time and effort. If you’ve taken on a care responsibility, it’s so important to make some time for yourself. Be kind to yourself and take care of your own needs, too.
Remember, you can only give what you have – and every effort will mean more than you could know.
