Some Things You Need To Know About Caring For Your Aging Loved One

Watching someone you love age into their elderly years can be very challenging. Someone who used to take care of you, and who was incredibly capable, is now having a hard time doing simple tasks and the roles suddenly reverse. You are now in charge of caring for this person who once nurtured you. In many cases, you can care for your aging loved one at home, but if your loved one is suffering from dementia, you may need additional help from a home care service. Here are signs that your loved one needs more help than what you can give.

1. Your Loved One Is Having Trouble With Language

Dementia is a common illness that affects many individuals as they age. Dementia doesn't just affect the person's memory; it affects so many parts of their life. The important thing is to catch it early so you can get them the help that they need. Language is one of the first things you will notice is suffering. For example, they may forget simple words when talking, or they will start to mix up their words. Instead of saying a common phrase like "it wasn't personal; it was just business" they may say, "it wasn't business; it was just personal." You may notice them flipping their words a lot, or if they speak another language, they may even start inserting words from that language into their speech, especially if they spoke that language as a child.

2. Your Loved One Is Paranoid

It is not uncommon for the person who is suffering from dementia to experience some paranoia. They might attribute dangerous or paranoid thoughts to things far from home, like a government conspiracy, or it could be something very personal. For example, they might believe that you or someone close to them is trying to poison them.

This is not something that should be ignored. You don't know if your loved one is going to act out and retaliate. They might choose to poison you first and could actually seriously harm someone. This is why paranoia needs to be addressed right away. You may need to get your loved one medications that can help to manage the paranoia. It also be a sign that your loved one needs to move into a facility where they can have greater supervision. This is for their protection and your own.

By looking for these things you can protect your loved one. And if you feel you need more help in the home to take care of your loved one, contact a home care company, such as Frances Health Services.


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