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The Challenges of Changing Environments for Your Loved One with Dementia

With dementia, the more the disease changes the brain, the less the individual is able to handle change. Familiar places and loved ones gradually become confusing, strange and frightening. Changes to their routine or their environment become huge, sometimes terrifying events that trigger anxiety, anger and other unwanted behavioral symptoms.

Changes don’t have to be large to disrupt someone with dementia. Even something as small as having someone visit or going to the doctor can cause a reaction. Changes to their environment, such as traveling, going to the doctor, moving to a new home or receiving houseguests, can trigger challenging symptoms. It’s essential to look past the symptoms themselves and recognize the root of the issue, which is that your loved one is trying to express frustration and understand a world that no longer makes sense to them.

Common Environment Changes That Can Cause Anxiety

Every individual is triggered by different things, so it’s important for caregivers to recognize what things cause their loved one stress and how they can make the situation better. There are a variety of common changes that can cause someone to become distressed, including:

  • Taking a bath or changing clothes
  • Moving to a new place
  • Changes in a daily routine
  • Changes in who’s caregiving
  • Being admitted into a hospital
  • Having houseguests or visitors

Create a Calming Environment

While dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease make it impossible to logically explain the changes in environment to someone, there are ways caregivers can reduce anxiety and manage the experience. The biggest thing caregivers can do is work to create a calm, controlled environment as much as possible. Your senior loved one will pick up on your emotions and reactions, so if you’re acting as if everything is okay, they will more quickly calm down. Once you’ve mastered that, here are some tips for making sure your loved one’s environment is as calming as possible, even when they have to change locations.

  • Schedule visits and outings during a time of day when your loved one is most alert and at their best. For example, if your loved one’s best hours are between lunch and dinner, plan appointments during the afternoon instead of the morning.
  • Look around to find potential stressors that may be causing your loved one extra anxiety. This could be loud noises like a TV, dark shadows caused by not enough light or even their reflection in a mirror. If possible, remove the stressor or address it in a way that helps your loved one feel more comfortable.
  • If routines or tasks are too complicated, simplify the steps to keep your loved one from getting upset or becoming frustrated.
  • Check to see if your loved one’s behavior is due to something they need or want. Are they in pain? Are they too hot or too cold? Do they need to go to the bathroom? Is there something that’s triggering their sensitivity to light or noise?
  • Make sure your loved one gets a good dose of physical activity on a daily basis. Go on a walk after dinner, spend some time in the garden or dance to their favorite music. Physical activity produces endorphins that will help keep your loved one calm.

Stick to a Daily Routine

People with dementia need routine in order to feel calm and in control. If there isn’t a routine in place, they become anxious and worry about what will happen, or what is happening, or what has happened. In order to reduce stress and making things easier for themselves, caregivers should help create a daily routine for their loved one that is familiar to them yet leaves enough flexibility for you to schedule doctor’s appointments, run errands and the like. For example, if for years your father has spent the mornings drinking coffee at the kitchen table, try not to schedule appointments during that time in order to maintain routine (and, by extension, keep everyone happy). Obviously, there may be times when changing the routine is necessary. In that case, remain calm and positive yourself, understand that there may be pushback and move forward with a minimum of fuss.

Provide Reassurance

Changing your loved one’s environment causes fearfulness, stress and anxiety. It’s hard to be calm when you don’t know what’s going to happen, so make sure to reassure your loved one as much as possible. For example, if your loved one has to be admitted into a hospital, stay by their side and continue to remind them that you’re there, they are safe and that they are loved. A gentle, loving touch can often do wonders to help someone with dementia. You can also provide objects that are reassuring, like a favorite blanket or a much-loved book.

Give Them Personal Space

At heart, everyone has a need for privacy and personal space. Someone with dementia may have an increasing need for personal space, which can cause stress if someone inadvertently wanders too close. Watch your loved one, gauge their needs and react accordingly. Remember that having time to be by oneself is something that doesn’t go away because of dementia. Be sure to respect your loved one’s autonomy as much as possible. Give him or her the space to do things themselves and only step in when it’s necessary. Be sure, too, to create a place where he or she can escape to be alone now and then. It’s hard to be around someone all the time, even when we don’t have dementia. Giving your loved one the space and opportunity to decompress will do wonders for their stress level, their mood and their overall quality of life.

Exceptional Care. Fulfilling Lifestyle.

Bridges® by EPOCH at Hingham provides assisted living and memory care that is comfortable, positive, safe and engaging. Exclusively dedicated to caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia or memory impairment, we’ve created a wellness-focused lifestyle that promotes dignity and individual preferences. Our memory care professionals receive specialized and ongoing training designed to help residents maximize their independence in a secure, calm environment – making a truly positive impact on the lives of our residents each and every day.

Dedicated Memory Care

No matter what level of care or service is needed, residents and families can rest assured that our programs address the various stages of memory decline, allowing residents the opportunity to age in place.

Personalized Services

At Bridges® by EPOCH at Hingham, our services are designed to recognize and adapt to the unique challenges and individuality of each resident, while ensuring comfort and safety. We believe in a full-service approach to care and provide a high level of personalized attention for every resident through all stages of memory loss.

Contact us today to learn more.

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