Dementia is unpredictable to say the least. It can transform someone’s mood, personality, and behaviors in the blink of an eye. When you’re at home caring for a loved one with dementia, these changes can be challenging enough to manage. But what happens when you’re at a restaurant, grocery store, or hair salon?
How to Change Cringeworthy to Calm
Fear of dementia outbursts in public may make you want to avoid going out at all. However, being out in the community is important. It gives a person with dementia a sense of purpose, eases loneliness and isolation, offers opportunities to socialize, and more.
Knowing how to deal with an embarrassing situation before going out is key. These tips can help.
- Keep calm. Your attitude and demeanor are highly contagious to a loved one with dementia. Take a deep breath and give yourself a pep talk before stepping out the door. Remind yourself to remain patient and unwaveringly calm, no matter what happens.
- Carry cards. If you’re concerned about how an outburst may impact others around you, create some small cards that you can discreetly hand out. They can simply state, “Please forgive any rude behaviors or outbursts. They are the result of Alzheimer’s disease.”
- Track triggers. Keep a journal to note details on difficult behaviors in public and then look for commonalities. You may find, for instance, that the person does well in a small store or restaurant, but becomes distraught when there are large crowds, too much noise, or bright lights. There may be a particular time of day that’s more distressing to be out, or physical needs may be a factor, such as hunger, thirst, pain, fatigue, or the need to use the restroom.
How Home Care Can Help
Independence-4-Seniors Home Care’s dementia care experts can help manage the effects of the disease with patience, skill, and creativity. As seasoned care professionals who are fully trained in a wide range of dementia care needs, we have seen it all! We know how to restore calm to someone who is agitated or distressed, ensuring respect and dignity throughout an outburst.
Some of the many challenging symptoms of dementia we can help manage include:
- Confusion and disorientation
- Wandering
- Sundowning
- Aggression
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Anxiety
- And more
Whether you’re looking for just a few hours of respite care to allow time to take a break, overnight support or live-in care to ensure safety and wellbeing while you get much-needed rest, or anything in between, we’re here for you.
Contact us online or call us at (630) 323-4665 for more tips and resources about handling dementia outbursts in pubic and to learn more about Independence-4-Seniors Home Care’s specialized in-home dementia care in Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Lombard, and the surrounding areas.