W<\/span>ith over 55 million<\/a> people across the globe living with dementia, providing quality care for our loved ones with dementia should be something we are all prepared for.<\/p>\n It can be quite a journey for all involved, but there are several ways to reap the rewards of caregiving, including feeling a sense of accomplishment, expression of love, and teaching younger family members compassion and acceptance.<\/p>\n I started my career with a passion for leading an active lifestyle and gratitude for older generations. Having experienced loved ones with cognitive decline motivates me to work towards improving the quality of life for people with dementia every day.<\/p>\n There are many ways to support people with cognitive challenges and ensure they receive the best possible care. One of the greatest takeaways from my research is that social interaction is not a need but a necessity.<\/p>\n One of the most vital things caregivers can provide to their loved ones is an environment where they can engage and play with others. Community centers and nursing home facilities that offer ample opportunities for positive social interaction and invest in \u2018warm\u2019 technology have been shown to provide the highest quality of life for those living with dementia.<\/p>\n At first, the signs of dementia might not be obvious, especially if you do not live with your loved one. It can start with a few symptoms that might not be recognizable, such as memory complaints, restlessness, or behavioral changes.<\/p>\n One of the most common warning signs of early-stage dementia is forgetfulness. This may look like repeatedly misplacing keys or forgetting an important date, such as a family\u2019s birthday, that was once easily recalled for years.<\/p>\n Another indicator of dementia is the inability to complete familiar daily tasks. If an individual is unable to find the way to drive to a location they\u2019ve been to many times, such as a local grocery store, this could be an early sign of cognitive decline.<\/p>\n People living with dementia may also struggle with speaking and writing. When having a conversation with a loved one, they might stop right in the middle of their sentence and struggle to continue what they were saying or find the correct word.<\/p>\n Every situation is different, which makes it essential to understand the specific needs of an individual, also known as person-centered care.<\/p>\n If there are warning signs present, doctors can assess memory impairment, identify any changes in behavior, and talk with family members to accurately diagnose someone with dementia.\nReceiving an early diagnosis is an essential step toward mapping out what\u2019s next in a person\u2019s care journey.<\/p>\n Selecting a long-term care facility is not an easy decision, but sometimes it\u2019s what\u2019s best for that person and all involved. To help prepare, I recommend visiting care homes and doing thorough research to ensure a home will meet the loved one\u2019s needs and wishes.<\/p>\n While I was earning my Ph.D. at the Delft University of Technology and University of Amsterdam, studying industrial design engineering and clinical neuropsychology, I had the opportunity to spend time in senior care facilities observing residents and their behaviors.<\/p>\n While visiting care homes, I observed a growing trend of apathy and isolation from residents. I found that the physical environment plays a significant role in residents\u2019 emotional wellness, and made it a mission in my line of work to provide people with the necessary tools to have a better quality of life.<\/p>\n Everyone wants to belong to a group \u2014 it\u2019s a primal need. Nursing homes can facilitate residents\u2019 ability to relate to and engage with their peers by creating positive shared spaces where residents can spend time with others and interact with one another.<\/p>\n When searching for a long-term care facility, look at the design of the building, shared spaces, and access to certain activities or technologies that can support meaningful connections between peers. Look for nursing homes investing in engaging activities and \u2018warm\u2019 technology to help foster these joyous moments.<\/p>\n For a loved one with dementia, the simple act of listening to music in a care home can have a significant effect by boosting brain activity, bringing up lost memories, and improving emotional wellbeing.<\/p>\n Staff shortages<\/a> are among the most common issues many senior care facilities face. When visiting a home, ask about staff retention and what the care home is doing to ensure access to social and recreational activities like music and group activities are available to residents, even during staff shortages.<\/p>\n One key indicator of a quality care home is a facility that is investing in technology to reduce staff turnover and increase the quality of care for residents. Care homes can combat apathy and stimulate brain activity for those living with dementia by introducing purposeful play through \u2018warm\u2019 technology. While nursing home staff can\u2019t be replaced with technology, it\u2019s a great asset to open up new opportunities for interaction for seniors.<\/p>\n Quality care homes with ample opportunities for social interaction and access to technology will ensure that loved ones living with dementia will lead a life filled with joyful moments throughout their different stages of cognitive decline.<\/p>\n Children of loved ones with dementia are often the designated caregivers. No matter what stage of the journey you\u2019re in, caring for a loved one can be both mentally and physically tiring.<\/p>\n Caregivers should do their best to continue taking time for themselves and partake in activities that bring them joy and happiness. This can include prioritizing your own care, such as visiting friends and pursuing hobbies, staying active with regular exercise to help boost mood, and practicing relaxation techniques, such as yoga, pilates, and meditation. Taking the time to take care of oneself lessens the chances of burnout and stress.<\/p>\n There is no shame in asking for help, whether that means asking friends and family to step in to cook a meal or sit with a loved one so the caregiver can engage in a self-care activity or daily ritual. If friends and family aren\u2019t available, there are options to seek home health care or adult day care services if funds allow.<\/p>\n The support of caregivers makes the most significant impact on loved ones with dementia. While learning how to be a caregiver is a process, it can be rewarding, and it is possible to provide a person with a high quality of life along their journey. Focus on creating a positive environment that emphasizes social interaction. Together with the right care professionals and the caregivers\u2019 support, it is possible to provide our loved ones facing dementia with the quality of care they deserve.<\/p>\n Maximizing quality of life for loved ones with dementia<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":13353,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[165,166],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-winter-2023","category-winter-2023-columns"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13280","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13280"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13280\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13352,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13280\/revisions\/13352"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13280"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Early Signs of Dementia<\/h3>\n
Finding a Quality Dementia Care Home for Your Parent<\/h3>\n
Caregivers\u2019 Mental Health Matters<\/h3>\n
Moving Forward<\/h3>\n
Hester Le Riche is the CEO and founder of Tover<\/a>, a healthcare technology company committed to creating a more caring and inclusive world for people with cognitive challenges, including dementia and intellectual disabilities.<\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"