Creating a dementia care plan for your loved one after diagnosis

Even though you knew it was coming, it’s still a tough pill to swallow—your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia. Once the initial shock or sadness wears off, it’s important to take the right steps alongside your loved one to ensure they’re taking care of themselves to the best of their ability. And for the aspects of care they can’t manage on their own, it’s even more important to designate who is responsible for what in their lives. One extremely helpful tool, for your loved one and the people involved in their daily lives, is a dementia care plan. Heather Glen Senior Living can help you get started. 

What is a care plan?

A care plan is exactly what it sounds like—a daily schedule, broken out by times of day (or whatever works best for your loved one) with both required and suggested tasks. For example, some care plans may be split into three sections: morning, afternoon and evening. Within each section, there’s specific tasks that need to be completed for the health and wellbeing of your loved one. It doesn’t have to be a rigid schedule, just something that’s easy to follow for both your loved one and their caretakers, so no one has to worry about missing an important step in their routine of care. Structure can actually help ease agitation and improve mood for those with dementia. 

Typical care plans for people with early- to middle-stage dementia include daily hygiene (bathing, brushing teeth, getting dressed, combing hair), meal and medicine reminders, activity breaks (watch television, listen to records, do crossword puzzles, play cards) and opportunities for rest or relaxation.  

What should be taken into consideration? 

Before you craft a care plan, there’s a few things to take into consideration. Take note of their hobbies, interests, strengths and weaknesses when picking activities to include—this can help keep your loved one engaged. Also consider what times of day your loved one functions best, and how much structure they’ve had in their lives until now. If they haven’t had a set routine since retiring, it’s best to ease into the care plan to not overwhelm them. If they function best after breakfast, plan the more ambitious tasks during this time. Additionally, their sleep schedule should take priority when creating a care plan—as too little sleep can cause noticeable agitation, increased confusion and increased anxiety for those with dementia. 

How can I help my loved one stick to the plan? 

You care a lot about your loved one, but that doesn’t mean their daily care has to become your sole responsibility after a dementia diagnosis. The most viable option for seniors with all stages of dementia is to live in an award-winning memory care community, which offers round-the-clock services, amenities and professional care your loved one deserves. 

Lehigh Valley’s premier personal care community, Heather Glen Senior Living, features a dedicated memory care community that was founded on a philosophy of wellness. This special community provides a homelike environment for residents, with 24-hour specialty trained staff to help residents stick to their daily care plan (and update it as their needs change). With on-site rehabilitation therapy, a bird aviary, walking path and endless enrichment programming, you can rest assured that your loved one is receiving the care, compassion and attention they need to be happy and healthy. 

To learn more about Heather Glen’s memory care facility or to schedule a tour with your loved one, contact us online or give us a call at (610) 841-4478.