Dementia Care

Caring for someone with dementia can be both physically and emotionally exhausting. As the condition worsens, the individual may wander alone, speak inappropriately, or experience hallucinations, necessitating constant supervision around the clock. This can lead to sleep deprivation and fatigue for caregivers, while also reducing time for social activities, hobbies, and maintaining connections with friends. Often, balancing household responsibilities and work becomes challenging, and caregivers may experience a decline in their physical health. To avoid burnout, it’s essential to seek and utilize support from those around you.

Lack of information and isolation

Lack of information and isolation can cause anxiety and confusion in dementia caregiving. Caregivers may become isolated because they lack knowledge about appropriate responses or available support systems, or because they feel disconnected from their surroundings.

It is important to share information and build connections with those around you.

Protect the caregiver's own health

Maintaining good health is essential for effective caregiving.

It is also important to take time to rest without stress and to set aside time for hobbies and relaxation.

By being mindful of these factors, you can approach dementia caregiving in a positive way.

Personal Care

Assistance is provided through direct physical contact, delivering essential care for a safe and comfortable daily life.

Specifically, this support includes help with eating, bathing, toileting, dressing, and mobility.

These services are tailored to the individual’s physical strength and health condition, enabling older adults to maintain their independence.

Additionally, they play a vital role in safeguarding users’ safety and health by allowing early detection of changes in health conditions through physical care.

Livelihood Support

This service involves performing housework and chores to support users’ daily lives on their behalf.

Specifically, it includes meal preparation and cleanup, cleaning, laundry, and shopping.

Unlike physical care, this service does not involve direct contact with the user but aims to create a comfortable living environment for older adults, enabling them to spend their time comfortably at home.

By having a helper manage burdensome household tasks, this service reduces the burden on both the user and their family.

Care for doctor's visits, etc.

This service provides support to help users travel to and from hospitals and clinics safely.

In addition to transportation, it ensures the patient’s safety during transit and offers assistance during medical examinations, such as helping the patient communicate with doctors or nurses if needed.

This service is particularly valuable when hospital visits are challenging or when patients feel anxious about traveling alone.

Introduction of Technology

Older adults with dementia are at high risk of wandering alone or falling, so a monitoring system can be very helpful.

These systems include sensors and cameras.

For example, sensors installed in a room or at the front door can notify family members when an older adult leaves the house or gets out of bed, enabling an immediate response.

• No end in sight to the caregiving period.

The duration of dementia care varies greatly from person to person and cannot be predicted generally. On average, it is said to last 6 to 7 years, but cases extending 10 years or longer are not uncommon, which can cause significant anxiety for caregivers.

• Abusive or Violent Behavior

As dementia progresses, individuals may exhibit abusive or violent behavior. For example, they may become intensely angry over trivial matters or direct insults at caregivers. At times, they may engage in unpredictable and violent actions, such as suddenly hitting or throwing objects. These situations cause significant stress for caregivers. Verbal abuse and violence can result in profound emotional trauma, even when caregivers understand that the behavior stems from dementia. Additionally, the constant need to remain vigilant for potential violence is both physically and emotionally exhausting.

• Refusal to Accept Care:

Refusal to accept care is a significant challenge for caregivers of individuals with dementia. For example, the person may refuse to eat, take medications, bathe, or engage in other routine care activities. Repeated refusals, such as saying, “I don’t want to eat now,” “I don’t need medicine,” or “I don’t want to take a bath,” can leave caregivers feeling helpless and frustrated. This refusal can lead to anxiety and impatience over the inability to provide necessary care. Caregivers may also lose confidence, questioning whether the refusal stems from their own shortcomings. In some cases, arguments arising from attempts to persuade the individual can strain the relationship. As these situations persist, caregivers may become physically and emotionally exhausted.

• Need for Round-the-Clock Care:

Caring for a person with dementia often requires round-the-clock attention. Symptoms such as wandering and insomnia, particularly at night, can prevent caregivers from getting adequate sleep.

For example, a caregiver may need to monitor a person with dementia who attempts to leave in the middle of the night, saying, “I’m going home,” to ensure their safety.

Under these circumstances, caregivers must remain constantly vigilant, making it difficult to achieve deep, restful sleep. Persistent and chronic sleep deprivation can significantly impact a caregiver’s health, leading to impaired concentration, diminished judgment, and increased irritability, all of which can disrupt daily life.

Additionally, long-term sleep deprivation may heighten the risk んof depression and other mental health conditions.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease can be an immensely challenging and emotionally taxing experience. It is crucial to prioritize your own well-being to avoid becoming overwhelmed or risking your own health, including the potential for developing dementia-related symptoms due to chronic stress.