Elder Care in Las Vegas NV
Dementia does not only affect a senior’s memory, but it can also impact their behavior. The term for these dementia-causing changes to the elder’s mental state are known as “behavioral and psychiatric symptoms.” During the early stages of this disease, the elder will probably become more irritable, anxious, or depressed. As their dementia progresses, they may also have additional symptoms that will affect their behavior, such as trouble sleeping, emotional distress, hallucinations, and delusions.
Many family caregivers find the “behavioral and psychiatric symptoms” to be the most difficult of all of the elder’s symptoms. Professional elder care providers are often hired to take their place, since caring for their loved one may require around-the-clock assistance. The best thing you can do during this time in your parent’s life is to educate yourself on possible behavioral issues to expect and what you can do to help.
Tips to Prevent Agitation
- Remove all triggers. When you notice that the elder is beginning to feel agitated, try to create a calming environment. Remove all noisy stressors (such as the TV or radio), limit their use of caffeine, and provide them with an object that will help them feel secure.
- Find a solution. The elder’s agitation could be the result of them trying to communicate something to you. Are they in pain, hungry, constipated, thirsty, or tired? Check for possible reasons your loved one could be expressing themselves in this manner.
- Keep their environment calm. Glare, noise, unfamiliar surroundings, and too many distractions can cause the elder to feel angry. Try to remove as many of these triggers as possible to help your loved one feel more comfortable.
Treatments for Sleep Problems
Older adults with trouble sleeping can often find it difficult to sleep at night or suffer from frequent disturbances. Most people prefer to use medications in order to help with these sleep issues. Possible medications the doctor could prescribe include:
- Antidepressants
- Anti-anxiety medication
Adults with dementia should avoid any over-the-counter sleep medication because it contains diphenhydramine. This ingredient could cause activity in the brain to further become suppressed.
Non-drug Treatments
If you would prefer to use a more natural treatment option, here are some options. Just make sure to check with the elder’s doctor before deciding to do any of the following options.
- Identify the behavior
- Find out what is causing the behavior
- Determine what environmental changes should be made to diffuse the behavioral problems
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IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING IN-HOME CARE IN LAS VEGAS, NV, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE. CALL TODAY 702-800-4616.