How to help a person with dementia: 10 useful tips

Fulfilling the functions of a caregiver is not an easy task, especially when it comes to ensuring the well-being of a patient with some type of dementia.

In this article you will find tips on how to help a person with dementia through a series of practical and useful tips that we can apply at home. The objective is to significantly reduce the level of wear and tear that people who care for patients with dementia present.

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What is dementia?

Before going on to see how to help a person with dementia, it is important to know what this disease consists of and the type of limitations and consequences that it implies in the lifestyle of people and their way of thinking, feeling and behaving.

Dementia is the gradual deterioration of the brain's cognitive functions associated with abnormal development of the nervous system in old age or late adulthood, which involves complications of memory, thinking, and impulse regulation.

Depending on the level and type of dementia, the subject could present a total or partial loss of said cognitive functions, or even having intermittent-type episodes in which you have moments of lucidity interspersed with moments of memory loss or disconnection from reality.

Main types of dementia

There are several types of dementia, and depending on each of them, the subject may present different symptoms. Let's briefly see what the most common types of dementia look like, and what are some of their main characteristics.

1. Alzheimer's dementia

This is the most common type among dementias, and is characterized by the fact that the number of neurons begins to gradually decrease causing a loss of brain volume, the first warning symptoms are memory loss, and difficulty in solving everyday problems.

• You may be interested: "Alzheimer's: causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention"

2. Lewy body dementia

Represents approximately 10-15% of all cases, and characterized by small, abnormal deposits of a protein (alpha-synuclein) that generates interruption between neural connections (synapses). The main symptoms are; memory, language, and reasoning problems.

3. Vascular dementia

This type of dementia is the product of vascular complications. Specifically, occurs when blood flow to the brain is reduced, by obstructions in the blood vessels. For example, during a cerebrovascular accident (CVD). Symptoms depend on the area of ​​the brain where the damage occurs.

How to help a person with dementia?

In these lines we will see some effective ways to help someone with dementia, and to promote their quality of life.

1. Maintain communication with the doctor

The main thing will be that we maintain a good channel of communication with the doctor that he is treating the person with dementia, and that we consult him with any specific questions we may have regarding his behavior and care for him. It is important to remember that not all cases are the same.

2. Help the subject to remain calm

Patients with dementia are often quite prone to losing their cool, due to confusion and memory loss. It is necessary that we understand their situation in an empathic way, without being affected by the state of stress that they present, and help them stay calm.

3. Simplify routines

A fairly effective way to improve the quality of life and reduce frustration levels in people with some type of dementia is contribute to the simplification of your daily routines. For example, daily cleaning, meals, etc. The idea is to find new ways to do it, through which the subjects feel less stressed.

It helps to have complete changes of clothes for each day so that the person doesn't have to try too hard to select her outfits. With regard to meals, it is useful to establish a relationship between each meal with something else (for example, a sound or melody), so that the person has a clear reference that it is time to eat.

4. Maintain a frequent dialogue

Dialogue with people helps keep your declarative memory active, especially if we talk to the subject about anecdotes in which he has participated. It is important that we maintain frequent communication with the person to avoid feelings of abandonment; we can set schedules for it.

• Related article: "Types of memory: how does the human brain store memories?"

5. Using memory games

There is a great variety of these games, which contribute to reducing the intensity of cognitive decline in people with dementia. Of course, the results depend on the degree of affection of the subject, but they are always a good alternative to extend the quality of life of patients.

• You may be interested: "8 memory games for older adults"

6. Have familiar objects nearby

Placing familiar objects in the subject's environment helps you keep evoking memories, which is also useful to reduce cognitive wear. In addition, it helps reduce symptoms related to confusion.

7. Report news

Helping the subject to be informed regarding current events is a way to keep him focused on the present and avoid being confused about the time you are in.

8. Regular walks

Accompanying them to have therapeutic walks helps the person with dementia to stay in contact with their surroundings, and contributes greatly to improving communication skills that are often affected in people with this disorder neurological.

9. Music therapy

Music therapy sessions relax and help stimulate the cognitive processes of patients, contributing significantly to their mental stability. When we are caring for a person with dementia, we should try to involve them in activities that help them stay calm.

10. Don't blame the person with dementia for their disinhibition

Disinhibition is one of the characteristics of dementia; Many of the people with this type of disease have problems adjusting to social norms because of damage to the parts of your brain responsible for "counteracting" the influence of the limbic system. It is important not to blame them for this, and to understand that it is a phenomenon beyond their control.

Bibliographic references:

• Atri, A. (2019). The Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Spectrum: Diagnosis and Management. Medical Clinics of North America, 103 (2): pp. 263 - 293.
• Bushara, K.O. (2005). Neurologic presentation of celiac disease ». Gastroenterology (Review) 128 (4 Suppl 1): S92-7.
• Feldman, Robert S. (2005). Psychology with applications in Spanish speaking countries. Mexico: McGraw Hill.
• Forbes, D.; Forbes, S.C.; Blake, C.M.; Thiessen, E.J.; Forbes, S. (2015). Exercise programs for people with dementia. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Submitted manuscript). 132 (4): pp. 195 - 196.
• Santos, J.L.; García, L.I.; Calderón, M.A.; Sanz, L.J.; de los Ríos, P.; Izquierdo, S.; Roman, P.; Hernangómez, L.; Navas, E.; Ladrón, A and Álvarez-Cienfuegos, L. (2012). Clinical psychology. CEDE PIR Preparation Manual, 02. CEDE. Madrid.