Elderly Care in Cranford NJ

The moment you find out that an elderly parent has dementia, there may be a whirlwind of questions swirling through your mind. How will this disease change your loved one in the future? Who will care for them? Caring for someone with this condition can be extremely challenging, especially as they enter the middle or late stages, but it can be done. However, having help from a trained elderly care provider can make this job much easier.

Along with the help of an elder care provider, knowing what you can do to help will also make the care given to the senior much smoother and more efficient. Here are some things to think about as you prepare to care for someone with dementia.

Create a Regular Schedule

Elders with dementia thrive on consistency. By not knowing what to expect day-to-day, they may become worried, confused, or in a poor mood. In order to create this schedule, keep these tips in mind:

• Be flexible. Not every day will go according to schedule because there will be times when your loved one will be extremely irritable or exhausted. Include some wiggle room in the schedule in order to prepare for these times.
• Let the senior know what to expect. Older adults with dementia typically do not like surprises, so inform the elder of what to expect throughout the day. This includes any activities or trips you may be going on.
• Let them help. If there is something the senior is able to do, let them. Allowing them to help out will give them a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Know How to Communicate

Communicating with someone who has this disease can be tricky at times. Follow these tips in order to effectively talk to your loved one.

• Provide simple, step-by-step instructions
• Avoid becoming frustrated, as this could escalate their challenging behavior
• Speak slowly in order to help the elder process what is being said
• Use close-ended questions
• Use body language to get your loved one’s attention, including eye contact, smiling, and touch

Managing Challenging Behaviors

Without warning, your loved one’s behavior may suddenly switch from happy to angry and volatile. It is important they feel safe and calm when these behaviors take place. This can be done through these ideas:

• Keep the environment quiet and remove other stressors from the room
• Keep yourself calm and free of stress at all times. If you begin to feel upset, take some time to yourself to calm down

Caring for someone with dementia is not an easy job, but hopefully these tips will help prepare you for the road that lies ahead.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring elderly care in Cranford, NJ, call the caring staff at Helping Hands Home Care today at 908-418-4299. Providing Home Care Services in all of Northern and Central NJ, including Clark, Westfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Rahway, Linden, Summit, Edison, Elizabeth, Mountainside and the surrounding areas.

Source: http://www.helpguide.org/articles/alzheimers-dementia/dementia-and-alzheimers-care.htm

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Robert D'Arienzo

Owner at Helping Hands Home Care

Robert D’Arienzo
After graduating from Seton Hall University with a BS in finance Helping Hands Homecare’s Owner / President, Robert D’Arienzo, went to work on Wall St. for six years. However, after Robert’s grandmother became ill with stomach cancer Robert and his family needed to find assistance in the home for her. After many trials and tribulations Robert could see that there was a great need for quality home care services here in NJ and loved the idea of being able to assist other families who were going through what his family went through with his beloved grandmother.

Thus, Robert had found his passion. After almost a year of preparation Robert opened Helping Hands Homecare in 2003. Robert wanted Helping Hands Homecare to focus on providing the highest quality of caregivers, exceptional customer service, and providing a service that familys could depend on in their time of need. Since then Helping Hands has assisted hundreds of individuals with the simplest of needs to more complex cases while preserving those standards set out many years ago.
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