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Home is an important place for everyone. For people with dementia, a familiar environment can help them connect with the past and maintain a sense of who they are. However, some practical changes may need to be made to keep the family home or the person’s space in a care home "dementia-friendly."
Every person with dementia will have different requirements for keeping a safe environment. Keep in mind some of the changes that occur with dementia:
Watch this video for suggestions for ensuring a safe home environment. Feel free to make some notes.
Here are some questions to consider for ensuring a safe environment for the person you are caring for at home:
This information is taken from the Alzheimer Journey, Module 2: On the Road
Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC) offers simple and practical advice on home adaptations to help people living with dementia and their caregivers or housing providers create a safe, secure, and independent living environment.
Read about the CMHC’s Recommended Tips for adapting the home environment for a person living with dementia.
Progression Series: Late Stage
Communication is both verbal and nonverbal. Both means of communication are important, but nonverbal communication becomes an even more valuable tool when dealing with memory issues, especially in the late stages of dementia.
Watching other people and their body language helps us to understand a conversation better, as so much of our language can have different meanings depending on how it is stated.
Here’s a look at the detailed differences between verbal and non-verbal communication. Download and print a copy of the activity sheet. Take a few moments to review the information.
After you’ve read the activity sheet, take a few minutes to reflect on the following questions. Feel free to make some notes.
Communication - Day to Day Series
Enhancing Communication: A By Us For Us Guide
Even if the person with dementia can't communicate verbally or no longer recognizes you, they likely will still be able to communicate in other ways and feel your affection and reassurance.
Watch this video to learn about some suggested activities that provide sensory stimulation. These can be engaged in with little expended energy and include ideas related to:
Feel free to make some notes as you listen and keep track of ideas you might like to try.
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After you watch the video, take a few minutes to reflect on the following questions. Feel free to make some notes.
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Progression Series: Late Stage
Recreation therapist Christie Oswald shares ideas about supporting a family member or friend living in a care home. These ideas can help ensure the best quality of life for the person living with dementia.
After you watch the video, take a few minutes to reflect on the following questions. Feel free to make some notes.
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Download and print a copy of the activity sheet below. Take a few moments to review the 44 things to do with a person living with dementia.
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After you’ve reviewed the activity sheet, take a few minutes to reflect on the following questions. Feel free to make some notes.
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Focus: Helping children understand Alzheimer's disease
Focus: Helping teens understand Alzheimer's disease
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This session includes the following parts:
Part 1: Ways to Support and Activity Ideas
Part 2: Connecting Through the Senses
Part 3: Verbal vs Non-verbal Communication
Part 4: Adapting the Physical Environment
Part 5: Questions for Reflection
Part 6: Questions Others Have Asked
Summary
Work through the various parts in the session at your leisure. Move from one part to another at your own pace and in the order that makes sense to you, based on your own needs and interests.
At any time, you may scroll to the Search bar and type a specific question or topic to learn more.
Based on an article in The Sherwood Park-Strathcona County News by Gwen Randell-Young, this Motion Graphic Video illustrates the unpredictability of life and the need to continue during times of uncertainty.
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A notable quote...
"Life is a lot like sailing - you can use any wind to go in any direction." - Robert Brault
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To move from feeling “powerless” to “powerful” we need to plan to take control of our feelings and follow through on our plan so that we can move to a more positive state. It may be helpful to experiment with different solutions to situations that are causing stress.
To move from the negative to the positive we need to let go of how we “wish” things were. We also need to let go of trying to change the disease. By accepting our current situation and focusing on each day we can move to a more powerful place.
Download and print a copy of the activity sheet below. Take a few moments to review the recommended actions to manage your feelings.
These steps can be used to help you get in touch with the feelings that are most difficult for you as a care partner and to plan actions that will help you manage them.
Find people you are comfortable with to share your feelings and emotions with. This may be a member of your family, a good friend, members of a support group, or someone at the local Alzheimer Society.
Care partners often become isolated and lonely, so it is important to stay connected to people and share your feelings.
A “family meeting” is a chance for spouses, children, and others to discuss the care of a person with dementia. It helps families identify needs, share responsibilities, and devise a plan that will best serve the person and the family as a whole.
A family meeting respects the persons’ wishes and prior decisions. It also acknowledges and supports the primary care partner.
Download and print a copy of the activity sheet below. Then, take a few moments to review the tips for holding a family meeting.
A well-planned family meeting can help to:
It can be challenging for family members to agree on what to do, but through talking and understanding, conflict can be reduced, and crisis decision-making avoided. The Alzheimer Society can connect you with professional support from counsellors, social workers, and family mediators.
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Progression Series: Late Stage
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This session includes the following parts:
Part 1: Late Stage Dementia
Part 2: Decision Making
Part 3: Holding a Family Meeting
Part 4: Managing Feelings
Part 5: Staying the Course
Part 6: Questions for Reflection
Part 7: Questions Others Have Asked
Summary
Work through the various parts in the session at your leisure. Move from one part to another at your own pace and in the order that makes sense to you, based on your own needs and interests.
At any time, you may scroll to the Search bar and type a specific question or topic to learn more.
When a person living with dementia needs full-time support, moving to long-term care may be the step for you and your family.
From the beginning of this program, we have encouraged you to get organized by ensuring you had conversations with your person with dementia to know their wishes. We also encouraged you to ensure a Personal Directive and an Enduring Power of Attorney document were completed. This is the time you will need to use these documents to help you make decisions. Use the wishes of the person to guide you.
You will hear a lot of different terms used by health professionals. Click on the following link to learn the common words and their meaning via the Continuing Care Glossary: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/cc/Page15500.aspx
In Alberta, Supportive Living sites can be accessed through Continuing Care services. This includes long-term care. You may already be connected with Continuing Care if you are receiving Home Care.
Anyone can call to start services and determine what you are eligible for.
Find out more information here: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/cc/Page15487.aspx.
The first step is to get connected with a Case Manager. This is a health professional who will assess the needs of the person with dementia as well as the care partner’s needs. They also handle the application to supportive living sites. If the person living with dementia is currently in hospital, the transition coordinator will be involved with the application.
Find out more information here: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/cc/Page15484.aspx
With the help of a case manager, the needs of the person living with dementia will steer you towards the type of accommodation to look for.
Find more information about Continuing Care Services here: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/cc/Page15339.aspx.
Alberta Health Services has a Continuing Care Facility Directory that can help you narrow down your search.
You can access more information here: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/cc/page15328.aspx#ccfd.
