5 Tips for Organizing a Home for Better Dementia Care

Caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease can be difficult. Those living with Alzheimer's disease may experience memory loss and other cognitive impairments that can interfere with their daily activities. As their condition progresses, they may require extra care and help around the home. Making a few minor changes in your Kittanning home can improve your loved one's quality of life and overall safety.

1. Establish a Memory Zone

Create a space that is familiar, comforting, and unchanging within the home. This can be a small area with a favorite chair, a few favorite pictures, and other coveted items. Setting up an area for music can make it much easier to soothe your loved one during "sundowning" when restlessness, agitation, and other times symptoms are at their highest. Even during times when little else can be remembered, familiar songs can trigger a sense of connection that soothes and calms those living with Alzheimer's disease. If you choose to incorporate musical elements into your loved one's memory zone, choose technologies that are straightforward and easy to use. This way, there's a greater opportunity for seniors to use these features for self-soothing throughout the day or to quickly turn them down when stimulation is too high.

2. Remove Trip and Fall Hazards

As people progress in age, the removal of trip and fall hazards goes far beyond picking up stray shoes or toys. Make sure that all floor rugs in your New Kensington home are either securely attached to the floor or taken away. When floor mats and floor rugs bend or curl at their edges, they can spell disaster for shuffling feat. It's also a good idea to strategically arrange the furnishings so that there's ample room to move through the environment without bumping into things, but always something firm and steady to grab onto when the balance is lost. Keep in mind, however, that once you make major changes to the layout of any room, you'll want to keep the space the same. Constantly rearranging furnishings can lead to confusion for people with Alzheimer's disease and it can also lead to agitation.

3. Incorporate Contrasting Colors

Beyond affecting memory and cognition, Alzheimer's disease can have a significant impact on a person's vision. Although studies are still being performed to better understand the nature of any vision changes that people with Alzheimer's experience, it is currently believed that adding contrasting colors to a space can prove helpful. Contrasting colors make it easier for people to identify changes in elevation, furnishings, obstructions, and more. This is something worth keeping in mind when serving food as well. Cups, plates, and other utensils should contrast in color with the foods or beverages being served.

4. Remove the Bathroom and Bedroom Door Lock

Everyone has a right to privacy. However, when a person is at risk of potentially harming themselves or at risk of needing sudden help, you don't accidentally lock them into a room and lock them out. Consider removing the door locks from the bathroom and bedroom doors of your loved one. This is especially important to do if you've had frightening lockout events in the past. 

5. Create a Safe, Comfortable Space for Self-Care

Whether your loved one bathes or showers, it's important to create a space that's slip-proof and has plenty of sturdy assistive devices to hold onto. Install grab bars in the shower or install a walk-in tub. Put anti-slip mats on the floor and anti-slip, non-skid strips or decals on the shower pan floor.  Make sure that the medicine cabinet and any other hazardous items are securely locked, and cover unused outlets. It's also a good idea to lower the temperature on your thermostat so that the risk of scalding is eliminated. 

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's in Alle-Kiski Valley doesn't have to leave you feeling overwhelmed. At Senior Helpers of New Kensington, we have extensive experience in providing targeted, needs-specific Alzheimer's care. Contact us today to find out more about the support we provide or to start a phone consultation.