How to Chat With Someone Who Has Dementia

1. Keep It Simple

People with dementia may find it challenging to process multiple topics simultaneously, and they may be overwhelmed by open-ended questions. Keep your communication concise and focused—ask them one question at a time and make it as specific as possible.

For example, instead of inquiring what they want to wear, give them options by asking if they want to wear the red or blue sweater. As their caregiver, you can also apply this technique to discussions about practical tasks and recalling fond memories.

2. Remove Distractions

Some people with dementia are easily distracted and have short attention spans. Before talking, help them focus by addressing them by name and identifying yourself by name too.

When possible, speak to your loved one in a quiet space. If you’re at home, eliminate distractions, like loud music or the TV. If you’re at a restaurant or in a public place, find a quiet area away from noisy crowds.

3. Use Body Language

Dementia can harm the part of the brain that controls language, making it difficult to interpret and use speech. Use nonverbal gestures, like eye contact, nodding, and smiling, while speaking to convey your message.

Observe their body language to see what they may be trying to tell you, even if they can’t find the words. Support your loved one by allowing them to express themselves how they feel comfortable, whether that’s through movement, pictures, or sentences.

The 5 Stages of Parkinson’s Disease

Medical experts typically divide the progression of Parkinson’s Disease (and other forms of Parkinsonism) into 5 stages – with differing degrees of severity, requiring different levels of care.

Stage 1: At this early stage, symptoms are limited to tremor (involuntary shakiness) and changes in posture, facial expression and walking gait on one side of the body. For the most part, these symptoms can be treated with medication and don’t interfere with daily life.
Stage 2: The disease begins to affect both sides of the brain and body, causing stiffness and other movement problems. Living alone is still feasible, but daily tasks like preparing meals are time-consuming and more difficult to perform.
Stage 3: Hallmark symptoms of this stage include loss of balance and slowed reflexes –which greatly increase the risk of injury due to falls. Daily activities like dressing or eating become extremely difficult.
Stage 4: At this stage, mobility decreases to the point where the patient is no longer able to stand up or walk without assistance. As a result, living alone is no longer feasible and potentially dangerous.
Stage 5: The patient is confined to a bed or wheelchair due to extreme stiffness in the legs. Hallucinations, delusions, and dementia are common, and round-the-clock care becomes necessary.

Fall prevention is one of the most overlooked risks or potential health hazards for seniors. Most of the time these falls come with limited risk, and even sometimes make for a great story. As we age however, our bones become more brittle, muscles heal slower, and bruising happens a lot easier. Having a fall later in life suddenly becomes a very serious health risk that can lead to broken bones, limited mobility and in some cases death. Priority Home Health takes these risks very seriously and has a dedicated fall prevention program that evaluates every day risks enabling our CNA’s and caregivers to provide the best possible support to keep our patients and your loved ones safe and on their feet.

Fall risk can come from both external and internal factors. External factors can include doorway thresholds, floor mats, wet surfaces, clutter, and low visibility. A lot of us have these ever day obstructions in our homes, but we don’t consider the risks they present to the health of an elderly person. Many seniors also have internal factors that contribute to a fall. Factors such as poor vision, low endurance, limited strength & mobility, and sometimes even conditions or diseases like Parkinson’s or MS. These internal factors combined with environments full of obstacles can really make it difficult for a senior to manage safely day to day. At Priority Home Health we identified risk factors be used for fall prevention care planning. Falling is not a normal part of aging. You can prevent falls by doing the right exercises, making your home safer, getting regular health checkups, and more.

Our goal is to visit your home within 48 hours of receiving the doctor’s order or your request for services. We never put you on a waiting list. When you call our office, you will speak with an office administrator to discuss the services you need, your schedule, if you have any preferences in your caregiver, and your insurance information or private pay.

During the initial visit in your home with a Register Nurse (RN), he or she will talk with you about your rights, treatment plan, what to do in case of an emergency, and answer any questions you may have. Once all of the paperwork is filled out, together we will discuss a schedule and then set up a time for a nurse or home health aide to meet you and receive training in the home. Once you are comfortable with an employee, they can begin working in your home. If there is ever a problem, please don’t hesitate to call us at 561-766-1954 and we will do everything we can to make it right.

WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR HOME HEALTH ADMISSION?
 

• Be essentially home bound, but not necessarily bedridden, and needing assistance when leaving home.
• Needs at least one of the following: intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language therapy or continue to need occupational therapy that are medically reasonable and necessary.
• Be under the care of a licensed physician who decided that medical care at home is necessary and will assist in making a plan of care for the patient at home.

WHO NEEDS HOME HEALTH CARE?
 

Patients meeting the home health admission criteria listed below (but is not limited to):
 

• Chronic illnesses like (diabetes, hypertension, cancer *non hospice, congestive heart failure, COPD, etc.) who needs follow-up   and management with medication regimen.
• Newly diagnosed illness or conditions who needs education, monitoring and follow-up.
• Recovering from a stroke/CVA.
• Recovering from surgery (orthopedic, cardiac, neuro, etc.) or other disabling event needing follow up rehab and monitoring in the home.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HOME HEALTH CARE? 
 

• Physicians find many patients recover sooner and more comfortably in the familiar surroundings of their home. We coordinate with hospitals and nursing homes to help people return home as quickly as possible and resume their normal activities.
• Families tend to stay more involved in their loved one’s care and patients feel more independent at home.
• Home care gives patients the opportunity to be reunited with family and friends in familiar surroundings and still receive the care they need.
• Professional staff work closely with a patient’s personal physician to tailor care treatment plans to their individual needs.
• Home care prevents or postpones institutionalization.

Every member of Priority Home Health family has made it their mission to put patients first, prioritizing the safety, security, and personal well-being of each and every patient in our care.

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.

Harriet Tubman

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