Household Chores and Dementia: How to Make it Work

Elder Care in Jenks, OK – The Importance of Help Around the House for the Senior with Alzheimer’s or Other Dementia

An elderly individual who has been diagnosed with dementia may struggle with basic household responsibilities. This could be one of the earlier signs that the elderly individual is dealing with certain issues that go beyond the basic aspect of aging. When an individual has been diagnosed with dementia, getting proper care can help them get back to taking care of certain aspects of their home environment, and also promote a positive and healthy lifestyle for many years.

When a family member begins to notice changes in their elderly loved one, especially their inability to maintain their own living environment in the way that they had grown accustomed to through the years, it could indicate a potential problem associated with dementia.

The most important thing in the beginning is to encourage the elderly individual to visit with his or her doctor. This will allow them to diagnose dementia, such as Alzheimer’s, if that is the case, as soon as possible. The earlier a person is diagnosed with dementia, the more effective the elder care can be.

So how do we make the pieces work together when referring to seniors with dementia and household chores?

One of the most effective things that an experienced in-home caregiver can do for the patient is to simplify the tasks. Often, when a dementia patient has a number of things on their mind, things they know that need to be done around the house, it can feel overwhelming and increase anxiety. When anxiety increases, some of the more common symptoms of dementia can also increase and that can create numerous emotional and mental health problems.

The first thing an experienced caregiver can do is to assess your loved one’s abilities. Can they still do certain tasks around the house or would they need assistance with them? For example, vacuuming may be a household chore that your loved one can do easily. Folding laundry may pose certain problems or challenges for your loved one, depending on what stage of the disease they are at.

Washing dishes and putting away glassware may pose certain challenges as well. It may be safer for the referred caregiver to do this chore rather than allowing your loved one to do them.

It’s also important to assess the physical exertion used in doing any household chore. Getting a certain amount of exercise can be important, especially for quality sleep at night. However, your loved one should not overdo the amount of exercise they get.

Experience can truly matter when it comes to caring for someone with dementia. Consider in-home care for your loved one to help with the daily, and sometimes frustrating, tasks of cooking and cleaning for themselves.