dementia care

who needs dementia care?

The term dementia comes up quite often in discussion these days. We all talk about it but do we really know what this condition is? Dementia refers to degeneration in a person’s cognitive abilities such as thinking, memory, problem-solving, ability to conduct social interactions, etc. This is accompanied by depression, irritability, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, and other such personality changes. 

Dementia care is usually required by patients who are:

• Suffering from a progressive form of dementia. This includes conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body dementia, Vascular dementia, Mixed dementia, etc. 
• Above the age of 65 years, since ageing makes the condition progress.
• Suffering from Down’s Syndrome.
• Having a poor diet and low levels of nutrition.
• Unable to perform daily tasks and live independently.
• Suffering from pneumonia.

what is the best care for dementia patients?

The best care for dementia depends on factors such as the condition of the patient, their personal preference, and financial capability. The patient can either be cared for at dementia care homes or in a hospital. Dementia care in an impersonal space such nursing home may make the patient feel vulnerable. That’s not all, dementia care service in the nursing home is quite expensive. 

The best alternative to this is home care for dementia. This allows the patient to live at home amidst their loved ones in familiar surroundings. It also lets the patient stay independently instead of handing over the smallest chores to the professionals at the nursing home. 

what are the stages of dementia?

Dementia involves a progressive decline of a person’s cognitive abilities. This progression involves 7 stages such as:

1. No cognitive decline: When the brain starts to show some changes on a CT scan, but the patient doesn’t exhibit any symptoms. 
2. Very mild cognitive decline: This stage begins when a person starts forgetting names or misplaces things. This stage usually goes unnoticed.
3. Mild cognitive decline: This is when the patient starts forgetting names, loses things, and is unable to organise their thoughts or make plans.
4. Moderate cognitive decline: At this stage, the patient starts to alienate from social interactions, finds it difficult to do the simplest tasks, and becomes disoriented. So much that these signs are palpable to their family and friends. This is the stage at which dementia is usually diagnosed.
5. Moderately severe cognitive decline: The patient starts to forget how to do the simplest things such as dialling a phone or taking a bath.
6. Severe cognitive decline: The patient cannot recognise the family members and experiences severe anxiety. He/she may, at this stage, need help to go to the bathroom.
7. Very severe cognitive decline: This is end-stage dementia where the patient becomes completely dependent on others and may lose bowel control. He/she starts struggling with words and is unable to communicate.

These stages occur differently in every patient. Not every patient experiences the exact same stages or symptoms. 

how to take care of a dementia patient?

Whether a patient is being cared for at home or at a dementia care home in India, the key is to help the person feels that he/she is understood with compassion. 

Here are some steps that are essential for managing a dementia patient:

• Getting specialised and professional caregivers to support the patient. This is especially important since dementia is not just progressive, but is also a complicated condition that overwhelms the caregivers. 
• The first step is to let the caregiver make the patient calm and connected to the surroundings. This can be done by keeping familiar things around him, using reminders, sticking to the same activity schedule, and more.
• Helping the patient do personal tasks without letting them feel embarrassed. These include bathing, dressing, grooming, etc.
• Supporting the person in the daily tasks like cooking, laundry, meeting people, and exercise.
• Since a patient with dementia may forget to take medicines or keep their medical appointments, it is critical for the caregiver to meet these requirements.

portea helps- local help from portea

Caring for a dementia patient can be quite stressful. The patient requires constant attention and care. When, at times, this doesn’t happen, it may severely impact the treatment plan and the patient’s health. This is where leaving dementia care to the country’s most credible home healthcare company like Portea comes in. Here is how Portea helps:

• Portea offers dementia care right in the comfort of your home. With this, you don’t have to live in the clinical and impersonal environs of a nursing home or hospital.
• Our staff of nurses and other medical attendants is highly experienced and professional. They are adept at recognising emergencies and taking corrective action when required. 
• We offer customised healthcare plans for different health conditions. Each plan is tailor-made to suit the dementia patient’s condition and preferences. This includes home visits by the doctor & other professionals, lab tests, teleconsultations, and more.
• We not only offer the services of medical professionals, but also ensure that the patient and her/his family are counselled about the treatment, its outcome, and any anxiety that they may be feeling. 
• We offer local support by way of dementia care homes in Mumbai and dementia care homes in Bangalore.
• By taking up our services, you can leave the entire management and administration to us without having to look for support in multiple places. 
• We are accessible at all times and have emergency care coordination. 
• Our services have been found to be much more economical than what a stay at a hospital or nursing home entails. This is especially true in the case of dementia and its progressive nature.