If you are trying to plan for a loved one who is battling dementia, you know how scary and overwhelming it can be, on top of all the other emotions involved.
If you are trying to plan for a loved one who is battling dementia, you know how scary and overwhelming it can be, on top of all the other emotions involved.
Dementia is a progressive disease, meaning that over time, the symptoms get worse, their behaviors may change, and unfortunately, they can aggregate, too. The silver lining is that there are some ways you can be proactive about your loved one’s dementia and steps you can take to make sure they continue to be happy, healthy, and safe. This is where a dementia care plan comes in.
What Is a Dementia Care Plan?
A dementia care plan is a more personal account of who the person is and is meant to help enhance and supplement their daily routine. A dementia care plan is meant to serve as their voice, as if they were telling you directly what they want to be doing and how they want their care to be. The goal of a dementia care plan is to provide the caregiver with the full picture of who the person is, what they enjoy, and so on. This will help the caregiver as they care for the individual.
What Should Be Included?
A dementia care plan should include important information about the individual, such as their full name, the name they prefer to be called, and their date of birth. It should also include information on their preferences and specifics on what they like and what they don’t like. Background information and former interests should also be included such as any previous jobs, any hobbies they enjoyed doing, places they lived or traveled to frequently, and more.
When a dementia care plan is fully completed, it should address areas such as cognitive ability, biography, family, friends, community, personality traits, physical health, eating preferences, drinking preferences, environment, safety and high-risk areas, spirituality or religion, and sensory issues.
What’s the Goal?
The goal of a dementia care plan is to give the caregiver a full picture of who the person is that they are caring for. The care plan will speak for the individual, advocating for them and helping them continue to take part in things they enjoy. Essentially, any information is good information to put in the care plan to help a caregiver with starting conversations or coming up with activities the individual could safely do.
We here at Solterra Senior Living understand that creating a dementia care plan can be overwhelming and can be very emotional. We also understand how difficult it can be to care for someone who is battling dementia. That is why we offer memory care with person-centered care in our communities.
Our highly qualified, compassionate team can care for your loved one. We can also help you create a dementia care plan for them – we know all of the right questions to ask to help us get a full picture of who your loved one is! We’re here to help,
just contact us.
