Best Ways to Help a Senior with Cognitive Impairment
Cognitive impairment isn’t only scary for the person living with the issue but is often overwhelming for their loved ones. Yet, it is a sad reality for many people across the world, as they might struggle with memory, perception, reasoning, or concentration.
The issue often stems from a medical condition, such as one or more types of dementia, Parkinson’s disease, a stroke, or a brain injury. Yet, help is available in various forms to improve a person’s quality of life and safety.
If you are caring for an aging parent, grandparent, or another loved one, you must introduce tactics to protect their health and well-being. Here are the best ways to help a senior with cognitive impairment.
Arrange a Medical Assessment
Cognitive decline could be the first sign of a health condition, and you must not hesitate to arrange a medical assessment for your loved one. A doctor will perform a comprehensive medical exam to determine if a senior is living with a disease such as dementia or Parkinson’s. Following diagnosis, they may prescribe medications and offer advice on how to protect a senior’s health and support their memory.
Talk to Your Loved One ASAP
Discuss a senior’s wishes as early as possible to allow them to contribute to their care moving forward. While some elders may prefer to remain in their homes, others might be more than happy to move into a senior living community near them.
For example, this respected assisted living in San Diego is supported by a passionate, experienced team of nurses and fully trained staff. Also, you can relax in the knowledge that staff will do everything in their power to protect your loved one’s cognitive health and happiness, as they will strive to mitigate the effects of memory loss.
Improve Their Safety at Home
As mentioned, cognitive impairment can cause perception issues, which might lead to accidents and injuries in the home. For example, a loved one might miss a step when walking down the stairs. Assess potential hazards in their home to ensure they remain safe each day. For example, they could benefit from a stair lift to transport them up and down the stairs with ease.
Regularly Evaluate Their Needs
It is crucial to routinely evaluate a senior’s needs when they have a cognitive impairment, as they might need additional assistance to protect their quality of life. In addition to assessing their memory, you must factor in their:
- Personal care (Are they wearing fresh clothes and bathing regularly? Have they stopped brushing their hair and teeth)
- Household care (Is their home dirty, cluttered, or smelly?)
- Emotional care (Do they seem unusually upset, angry, or quiet?)
- Safety (Have they sustained any hidden or visible injuries, such as bruises, cuts, burns, or other wounds?)
If your loved one’s habits have changed or they have developed injuries, you must not hesitate to return to their doctor for an additional assessment and ensure they receive the support they need.
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