SELF-CARE TIPS IN EARLY STAGE OF DEMENTIA

November 29th, 2023 | By: Admin

Self-care is crucial for maintaining overall well-being and achieving a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Self-care is not a luxury but a fundamental aspect of maintaining a healthy and fulfilling life. It involves taking care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally as well as spiritually. As in the early stage of dementia, because of cognitive decline people start forgetting easily. A person suffering from dementia may be capable of remembering what had happened in past few days, months or years. However, sometimes he or she cannot remember what they have done past 15 hours. In the early stage of dementia, individuals may experience fear as they grapple with memory lapses, such as forgetting familiar faces or struggling to comprehend conversations. Simple tasks, like recalling the purpose of a trip to the store or navigating back home, become challenging, contributing to anxiety. The resulting preference for routine and resistance to new experiences are typical responses to the difficulty in adapting to change.

Here are some tips when you are sufficiently healthy and strong enough to take care of yourself in the early stage of dementia.

1. Make routine: - To kick-start your day, ensure a well-established routine for bathing, grooming, and dressing. Following this, establish a timely schedule for meals to maintain optimal fitness. This practice guarantees that you receive ample nutrition for a healthy lifestyle. Nutritious and well-balanced diet support physical health and cognitive function.
2. To do list: - The advantage of this is the creation of order in our lives. It helps regaining focus when distractions arise and guide you to return to tasks after addressing something that demanded your attention. Try to create a planner on a notebook to track your activities of the specific day. To do list can include:-

· Morning routine
· Exercise
· Meal planning
· Grocery list
· Family time
· Visiting neighbours

3. Practice mindfulness: - People with dementia find it hard to accept some challenges in life that gives them frustration. Mindfulness techniques aim to attain a state of heightened, focused, and relaxed awareness by intentionally directing attention to thoughts and sensations without rendering judgment. This approach enables the mind to immerse itself in the present moment, fostering an attitude of acceptance. Mindfulness serves as more than a coping mechanism; it becomes a transformative tool. By incorporating 10 minutes of meditation into your lives, you gain a fresh perspective, fostering personal growth, flourishing, and the ability to lead a more compassionate and fulfilling life.
4. Reminder: - Reminders hold significant importance as they help you stay on course and concentrate on what truly matters. They contribute to maintaining organization in your daily activities and offer valuable support along the way. Reminders help individuals adhere to their prescribed medication schedule by providing timely alerts. This is especially important for medications that need to be taken at specific times or in precise doses. By receiving reminders, individuals are less likely to forget to take their medication. Missing doses or irregular medication patterns can compromise the intended benefits.
5. Stay productive: - Environment plays a crucial role for people suffering with dementia. Having suitable surrounding, creates positivity in them to lead productive and satisfying lives even after the diagnosis of dementia. Adding fun activities like playing cards, art and craft, playing with pets, playing puzzles and many more aid the person to alleviate monotony from their lives and boost cognitive skills. According to one study, reduction in alcohol consumption, incorporating healthy diet, walking 10,000 steps in a day and quality sleep can prevent about 40% of dementia to be occurred.
6. Collaborating: - Engaging in social activities is linked to lower rates of disability and mortality, and it may serve as a protective factor against depression. Beyond these benefits, maintaining social connections may contribute to brain health, potentially even delaying the onset of dementia. Participating in clubs, volunteering, and other community initiatives can be valuable for your overall health. Regularly interacting with friends and family foster a sense of belonging and help you from feeling isolated.

It's important to tailor these self-care methods to the individual's unique needs and preferences. Additionally, consulting with healthcare professionals, including doctors and dementia specialists, can provide personalized guidance and support. Regular communication between caregivers and healthcare providers is crucial for adapting self-care strategies as the disease progresses.