Supports and resources in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario for your loved one living with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia presents unique challenges, particularly when the goal is to allow them to stay in their familiar home environment. With the right strategies, adjustments, and support systems in place, many individuals with dementia can live comfortably at home for a significant period. However, dementia is a progressive disease, and there will come a time when the decision to move to a retirement or memory care facility becomes necessary.

Understanding how to create a supportive home environment and knowing when it’s time for a professional care setting are key to ensuring the well-being of your loved one.

Creating a Safe and Comfortable Home Environment

Safety and familiarity are essential for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. One of the first steps in supporting a loved one at home is to make the living space as secure and navigable as possible. As dementia progresses, confusion, disorientation, and difficulty with movement can lead to accidents or wandering.

• Modify the Home: Consider removing any potential hazards. This includes securing rugs, removing clutter, and ensuring clear pathways in hallways and staircases. Install grab bars in bathrooms and ensure that lighting is bright enough to reduce falls and help with orientation.
• Simplify the Environment: Label rooms and everyday items like drawers or cabinets to help with memory loss. A large clock with the time, date, and day of the week can help your loved one stay oriented. Using simple, clear signage for bathrooms, kitchen, and bedroom can also reduce confusion.
• Routine and Structure: Establishing a consistent daily routine helps to reduce anxiety and uncertainty. Predictable mealtimes, activities, and sleep patterns provide comfort and allow your loved one to know what to expect.

Offering Emotional and Cognitive Support

Dementia often affects cognitive function, but it can also impact mood, behavior, and communication. Maintaining a supportive and empathetic approach is essential for your loved one’s emotional well-being.

• Clear Communication: As dementia progresses, people may have trouble understanding complex instructions. Use short, simple sentences, and speak slowly. Give them time to process what you’re saying and respond. Avoid correcting them when they make a mistake, as this can cause frustration.
• Emotional Reassurance: People with dementia may become anxious, confused, or upset. Offer comfort through gentle reassurance, touch, and patience. Avoid arguing or trying to “fix” their memory gaps, which could increase stress. Work with them, not against them.
• Engagement and Stimulation: Although their cognitive abilities may decline, individuals with dementia often benefit from engaging in activities like puzzles, arts and crafts, or listening to music. Simple exercises and walking can also help improve mood and overall well-being. These activities help provide a sense of purpose, reduce agitation, and improve quality of life.
• Socialization: Isolation can worsen depression and anxiety in people with dementia. Encourage social interaction, whether through family visits, community programs, or activities at home. Maintaining these connections helps preserve their sense of identity and purpose.

Coordinating Care

The best care comes from family members, but this doesn’t come without effort and coordination. It all depends on who is available and how much time each person can devote to supporting the person living with dementia. Work together to coordinate schedules and duties such as grocery shopping, meal preparation and delivery, etc, and try and maintain consistency in schedules so as not to confuse your loved one.

As dementia progresses, it can become increasingly difficult, however, for family members to provide the necessary level of care on their own. At some point, professional help becomes essential to ensure your loved one’s safety and well-being.

• In-Home Caregivers: Professional caregivers can provide assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and meal preparation. They can also offer companionship and monitor health and safety. Depending on your needs, in-home care can be arranged on a full-time, part-time, or respite basis.
• Community Support Services: Meal delivery and homemaking are two services which can help your loved one maintain their independence and health.
• Medical Support: Regular visits from healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or therapists, can help manage your loved one’s physical and mental health. Specialized care, such as occupational therapy or cognitive rehabilitation, may also be beneficial.
• Support Groups: Caregivers often experience burnout, stress, and emotional fatigue. Joining a support group for caregivers can provide valuable guidance, emotional support, and practical advice on managing the challenges of caring for someone with dementia.

Knowing When It’s Time for a Retirement or Memory Care Facility

While staying at home is often the preferred choice for many people with dementia, there will come a point when the level of care needed exceeds what can be reasonably provided at home. It’s important to recognize when it’s time to explore a memory care facility or retirement home.

• Safety Concerns: If your loved one is at risk of wandering, falls frequently, or struggles with using kitchen appliances or taking medications safely, a more controlled environment may be necessary.
• Increased Care Needs: As dementia progresses, individuals may require more frequent medical attention, assistance with physical needs, or help with mobility. If the caregiving demands become overwhelming, it may be time to consider a retirement or memory care facility.
• Behavioral Changes: Severe behavioral changes, such as aggression, hallucinations, or frequent mood swings, can be difficult to manage at home. If these behaviors interfere with their safety or quality of life, a specialized facility may be better equipped to handle these needs.
• Caregiver Burnout: Caring for someone with dementia can be physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausting. If you are experiencing caregiver burnout, it’s essential to consider professional care for both your loved one’s and your own well-being.

Looking for a retirement home

At some point you’re likely going to start looking for a retirement home for people living with dementia. Memory care units in retirement homes are becoming increasingly common as dementia becomes more prevalent in the elderly population. There are many to choose from in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario, depending on where you live.

People living with dementia seek familiarity so it is understandable how a family would do everything to keep their loved one at home; however, retirement homes like Carefor Richmond Care Home that offer dementia care have staff trained specifically in supporting people living with dementia. Additionally, homes like Richmond Care Home are designed to support people living with dementia through their layout and décor.

Final Thoughts

Helping your loved one live at home with dementia requires patience, compassion, and the willingness to adapt. By making home modifications, providing emotional support, and seeking professional help when needed, you can ensure they live as comfortably and safely as possible.

However, when their care needs exceed what you can manage, it’s crucial to recognize the signs that it’s time for a memory care facility or retirement home. Ultimately, this decision should be based on their evolving needs and the available support system, with the goal of ensuring they receive the highest quality of care in a safe, compassionate environment.

If you decide that the time is right to move your loved one into a retirement home, we hope you take peace of mind knowing that they will be cared for in a secure environment with trained professionals. While it’s never an easy decision to make, a caregiver should also consider their own well-being and know when it’s time to make this move that you’re doing so for the benefit of all involved.

For more information on finding the right retirement home for your loved one, click here or here.