Once an older adult reaches the late stage of dementia, they are entirely reliant on others for their care. They may be unable to eat without help and will have difficulty swallowing. They will either need help to walk or be incapable of walking. They can also get sick very easily. Pneumonia is a particular threat. For many family caregivers, this can be the most difficult stage.
Home Care Services Brooklyn NY – Care Tips for Late Stage Dementia
Below are some tips that may make caregiving during late stage dementia a little easier.
Communicate Using Senses
A person in late stage dementia is usually unable to communicate through speech. They may not understand what you say, so you’ll need to find other ways to connect with them. The Alzheimer’s Association suggests using senses to let the person know that you care.
Some ideas they recommend are:
- Playing the senior’s favorite music.
- Looking at old photographs.
- Making their favorite food.
- Brushing their hair.
- Sitting outside with them to enjoy the fresh air and sunlight.
Learn to Adapt Foods
If the older adult has trouble swallowing, you will need to adjust the foods they eat to make them easier to chew and swallow to prevent choking. Liquids will need to be thickened using gelatin, cornstarch, or a thickening agent that can be purchased at a pharmacy. Serve the senior soft foods like puddings, yogurt, applesauce, and mashed potatoes.
Know How to Safely Lift
You’ll need to be able to transfer the senior from their wheelchair to bed or the toilet. If you don’t do it correctly, you could injure yourself or the older adult. You may need to purchase specialized equipment to help you do the job. You can learn the skills you need from a physical therapist.
Prevent Pressure Sores
Pressure sores, or bed sores as they are sometimes called, happen when a person stays in one position for too long. To prevent them, help the older adult to change their position at least every two hours. When you do, make sure they are in a position that is comfortable. You can use pillows to prop up their arms and legs and take pressure off bony parts of the body, like the elbows.
Use Home Care Services
Contact a home care services agency to learn more about in-home care options. The responsibilities of caring for a senior with late stage Alzheimer’s are often too overwhelming for family caregivers to do on their own. Home care services providers can give family members a chance to take a break and refresh themselves. The home care services agency will do their best to match the needs of your loved one up with the experience of their staff members, so the provider who is assigned to the senior will likely have worked with other seniors with dementia. Safety Alarm
Sources: https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/late-stage
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/end-life-care-people-dementia
https://www.verywellhealth.com/symptoms-of-late-stage-alzheimers-disease-98604
