Dementia is a multi-faceted disease, which involves a variety of behavior changes within those inflicted with the disease. No cure exists currently and depending on the stage the dementia patient is in thinking can be greatly affected.
Instructions
1. Learn all you can about dementia, once a firm diagnosis has been made. Secure a power of attorney. A trustworthy family member should have access to all bank accounts and legal information, so get a power of attorney as soon after diagnosis is made. Allow dementia patients to live on their own since they can care for their own needs. However, this is a quick progressing disease and these patients should not be alone for extended periods because no one can predicts that rate of cognitive impairment.
2. Check in on the dementia patient daily if he or she does not live with you or have a trusted neighbor check this person. If there is, a spouse or close neighbor to help watch over the patient it should be okay, but if that person lives alone, make an excuse to visit everyday for as needed.
3. Watch for those dangerous points, which are red flags that this person has regressed to the point when they are no longer able to stay alone. These include not eating properly, taking too many medicines, not remembering simple stuff, like the day, as well as any odd behaviors which are not usual to that person.
4. Prepare the dementia patient to have a say in where they live if possible. Allow them to make their own choices as they are able, but at the point when they are unable to make simple decisions then a family member needs to step in.
5. Move the dementia patient in your home or a nursing home when they can no longer live on his or her own. Perhaps they will resist, talk with their doctor, and go to court to gain custody if needed. Safety is very important and if their cognitive thinking and reason skills are damaged by the progress of the disease to the extent that they have become unable to care for them it is up to us as family members to step in and help.
Tags: dementia patient, when they, family member, point when, point when they, power attorney