It can be easy for family caregivers to older adults with dementia to feel like they have little control over the situation. Things can change from one day to the next. In addition, the older adult being unable to communicate how they are feeling complicates things. One way you can make the job of being a caregiver easier is by keeping track of certain aspects of your older family member’s health and day-to-day activity. Below are 4 things that can be helpful to track when a senior has dementia.
#1: Dementia Symptoms
The symptoms of dementia get worse over time. However, it can sometimes be hard to tell if symptoms have changed when you are with the older adult often. Tracking symptoms can help you to see when the disease has progressed. It can also help you to determine when a change in care is needed.
#2: Care Needs
The care needs of an older adult with dementia increase as the disease worsens. New caregiver chores can creep up on you, so that you don’t even realize you’re doing more and might need some help. By writing down what you’re doing now and updating the information often, you’ll be able to see trends in increasing care needs.
#3: Difficult Behaviors
Challenging behaviors, like aggression and wandering, are symptoms that require some special attention. They can affect the safety of your aging relative. Keeping track of when the behaviors occur, what was going on before the behavior, and the things that work to relieve it can make dealing with them easier for everyone involved.
#4: Food
Good nutrition is important for everyone, including people with dementia. Unfortunately, dementia can make it harder to ensure your loved one is getting all the nutrients they need. Tracking what the senior eats on a daily basis can help you and their doctor to see if all of their nutritional needs are being met, or if they might need supplements.
While tracking certain information can be useful in caring for someone with dementia, it’s not likely to solve all your difficulties with caregiving. One way to ease your struggle is to hire home care through a home care agency. Home care providers can come to the home to supervise and assist the older adult while you take a much-deserved break. Home care providers can prepare meals for your aging relative, involve them in activities, and make certain they stay safe.
Sources
https://dailycaring.com/keeping-a-dementia-journal-makes-caregiving-easier-7-things-to-track/
If you or an aging loved one is considering home care services in Lockwood, MT, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Billings today at 406-839-2390.
