A dementia diagnosis will  be shocking.

The prospects of taking care of an elderly loved one for months and perhaps years, will seem very stressful and overwhelming at first.  However, there are ways to deal with the early stages of dementia which will not only help you get organized with less stress, but can also help provide a safe, loving environment for the dementia patient. 

 1. Baby-Proof the house

You should evaluate  where the dementia patient will live as closely as you would for a baby.  In fact, it's not a bad idea to talk to nursery school/daycare operators if you are in doubt. It will surprise you how many hazards can be found  around the typical home which can cause accidents and dangers for the young and the old.

Get rid of guns, kitchen knives, power tools, and make sure cords are not dangling where the dementia patient could trip over them.

If your loved one  can still operate an appliance like an iron, see that it is turned off after each use, or that it  automatically turns itself off.

2. Monitor driving  closely

Patients in the early stages of dementia are still allowed to drive in many cases although it is the law in most states that their condition has to be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Your biggest problem is when and how to take the keys away from the loved one, but additional testing by the state may solve that situation for you.  If the person does not pass the driving test, he will not be able to keep his driver's license.

3. Supervise all medications

If you can not be there to do this yourself, you must see to it that someone will  check on your aging parent or loved one daily.   For example, if your Dad misses his blood pressure medicine or takes it incorrectly that could lead to an unnecessary hospitalization, which could cause his dementia to grow worse

4. Give the dementia patient a pleasant living area

People in the early stages of dementia need bright cheerful surroundings.  The house, or rooms where the person lives, should be  kept clean.   The person should not be allowed to stay in dark rooms with little stimulation.  That will probably make their condition worse. 

Keep the television or radio on and give their rooms plenty of light.

5. Keep the person exercising

Another serious problem dementia patients often have is they lose  use of their muscles over time because they are not physically active. This problem can also grow worse because of poor appetite and diet.

Get the dementia patient involved in walking or other simple activities.  This will not only keep his muscles strong, but will aid in sleeping and help with restlessness.

6. Keep the person mentally active for as long as possible

Try to maintain the person's interests such as reading, working jigsaw puzzles, and playing games.  Don't throw too many difficult activities at him that he may be  unfamiliar with because that will only confuse him.

7. Take care of yourself

You can't help them, if you're too stressed out physically and mentally.  Take some time off.  Have someone else come in and monitor your loved one for a few days.  This will probably be possible in the beginning while the person can still function fairly well.  As the disease progresses, check with the Alzheimer's Association for support groups, social workers, and aging services. 

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