Tips for caregivers!!
I think my tip for managing my husband who has Dementia and Parkinsons disease is when ever he would start to get angry,scared or
frustrated I would stand up and face him,eye to eye.I would make sure he had calmed down a bit then I would go in for a hug.Not just any old hug,a
big warm hug,and make it last a while. He would just melt in my arms.
💔Sometimes I would cry and sometimes he would cry.But then his agitation was over.I of course would do this if your loved one could get violent but I've given this tip to many caregivers through the 6 years we've been going through this horrible process. 😢 I also would say that you look for a support group in your area.
These friends literally saved my life.🥰I was at my last straw when I learned about my support group.I just thank God I found this life raft because I was angry and sad and they helped me work through all my feelings.Love to all of us that are going through this nightmare 💔
, thank you so much for sharing your tips. I'm glad that this helped you both come through those tough times together. It must have been so affirming for him to know you understood him and that your love was evident and strong.
Support is so important. How did you go about locating your support group? - Warmly, Donna (Team Member)Such a beautiful tip about the "big warm hug". My husband has Alzheimer's, and those moments of agitation can be so difficult to navigate.
Sometimes, all they need is that physical connection to bring them back to a place of peace.
Also, I agree about the support group. Finding my group saved my sense of reality and gave me more strength to fight.
I want to add two more tips I find useful. When my husband gets stuck on a thought or starts pacing, I immediately try to redirect him to a simple, familiar activity. It could be a specific time we always have tea, or maybe put on some music he loves.
Additionally, what helped me the most is using technology to my advantage. I recently got him some gadgets, like a talking photo album and a large-display calendar clock. I got him the Jubilee TV box, too, which is designed for the elderly and people who have memory issues. I set him reminders for his medicine, and I can call him on a video call that answers automatically. It's useful when I'm out and I check on him, without worrying he will forget how to answer the call.
The most important thing is to think about yourself and keep your mind sane so that you can be there for him and make his life as easy as you can.Thanks! I record the phrases myself, so I can personalise the memories for him.
The Jubulee TV box is essentially a simplified TV interface, which is very useful for people who are not very familiar with these new complicated technologies. Also, it is useful for people who have problems with memorising in general. It simplifies the TV, has a remote control with only 6 buttons, a camera and a sensor. I find it useful when I have to go out for a longer period of time, I can always call my husband to check in, and I can fix any problem he has with the TV from the app on my phone.
Also, he spends most of his time in the living room, where the box is, and there is a sensor that tells me if he is out of the room for too long. It indicates something is going on, and I ask my neighbour to check in to see if he fell or wandered off., wow, that is incredibly useful! Thank you for sharing that! It ticks a lot of boxes in keeping your loved one safe! Your system seems very robust, and with the tools you have seems fairly easily to replicate. And the simplified remote seems frustration-resistant - you could even make a list of favorite channels and post it near your LO's favorite chair to help them choose. - Warmly, Donna (Team Member)
