There can be few more difficult paths to negotiate than dementia care. From a physical, emotional, and mental perspective, it's completely exhausting and pushes many people to their limits. Learning what you can do to make the process easier for yourself will both improve your own experience, as well as the quality of the care you provide.
Dementia care is difficult, here are some key tips it's important you remember.
Be Mindful Of Your Limits
It's so easy to feel that you need to take everything on yourself, there are so many things you need to get done and so few hours in the day. It's important that you learn to understand and accept that you're only one person, you can't be everywhere and do everything all at once. Take regular breaks to compose yourself, gather your thoughts, and recharge your batteries. Spreading yourself too thin not only burns you out but increases the odds of you making mistakes.
Make Lists And Prioritise
There is so much to deal with in the average day when it comes to dementia care that it's impossible to remember everything off the top of your head. Make the time to sit down and write a copy of the tasks you need to complete the following day, then order them by the both their importance and the time in which they need to be done. As you go through your day, tick them off so you're never in any sort of doubt about what you have done already and what there's still left to do.
Reach Out And Talk
Your feelings matter, and it's important you have an outlet to discuss them with people who understand what you're going through. You may not even want help or advice, even just a friendly understanding ear is worth its weight in gold to let you vent some of your frustrations and feel there is someone who is there for you just as you're there for the person you're caring for. Swallowing down your emotions, both positive and negative, is never healthy and only causes further problems later.
We're Here To Help
If you would like to speak to one of our team about dementia and find out how we can help then call on 0333 200 7199, or visit our Dementia Services page to find out more about our great service.