4 productive ways to help you cope with a parent’s dementia diagnosis

August 12, 2023

Since the average life expectancy in the Western world has continued to increase exponentially, it has become more common for older people to experience cognitive illnesses, including Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

This does not mean, however, that a dementia diagnosis is any easier to process. Here are 4 ways that can help during this time.

1.   Contact an established support network

There are many societies, charities and other support networks that specifically deal with helping both the individual who has been diagnosed with dementia and also their loved ones.

A good first step to being practical in the wake of this diagnosis is to either encourage your loved one to contact, or else contact on their behalf, the First Link service at the Alzheimer’s Society.

Such organizations will provide copious and detailed, yet easy-to-digest, information regarding dementia and expected, usual and unusual individual cases of the progression of the disease. They will also offer help and advice for caregivers and family members.

2.   Talk through the options

Planning for the future is naturally going to be an emotional and probably conflicting discussion, especially if your mother or father’s diagnosis of dementia has been confirmed in the early stages. If so, it can often help them gain some control over their own lives.

One of the most popular choices for people in such a situation is to take the time to look into different senior living communities, like this established and expert memory care in Dallas, TX.

3.   Find out about treatment options

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for the majority of the different forms of dementia, although charities, doctors, nurses and research scientists are all committed to securing a cure in the end. Make yourself a friendly face to your loved one’s doctor and nurses. Enquire how the disease is likely to progress as well as any benefits and risks of new drugs or treatments that may already exist (or are currently in development).

4.   Maintain close communication and conversation

There is great importance of communication and conversation, both in the context of your loved one and yourself and other family friends. This is also essential when making sure your own emotional heath does not suffer too much.

Whether you are intending on becoming the full-time caregiver for your loved one, looking into at-home help and respite centers, or are looking into the aforementioned memory care facilities, you should ensure you have your own support network around you.

Finally, and most crucially, you must let your loved one with dementia make as many decisions, for as long as possible and allow them to always strive to help maintain their independence.

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