Once your parent is diagnosed with dementia, despite the anxiety you and your loved one may experience, hiring a personal care assistant may provide the needed activities that will support their memory care.  You may not be able to care for all your parent’s needs, whether this is due to your family or work schedule or the inability to provide the needed activities.  Research has identified that it is possible to slow the decline if your loved one is encouraged to maintain daily activities such as personal care and dressing, and to prepare for the day as usual.  However, what was their norm yesterday may differ today, and your caregiver will be the individual who will assist your parent in adapting to new tasks and techniques.

Providing structure to your mother or father’s routine, the personal care assistant allows your loved one the opportunity to experience their independence.  As their dementia increases, this experienced caregiver will help them with each task, keeping your mom or dad focused on what they can do.  As an adult child, you may want to be the one to provide care for your parent. However, it is critical to understand the demands of you and your loved one.  The importance of involvement and providing stimulation is an integral part of the supportive treatment.

Keeping your parent active and stimulated will often reduce the anxiety and agitation that is often a result of the confusion that this disease is associated with.  The activity provides your parent not only physical movement, but the action will also reduce the frustrations allowing the energy to flow in a more positive manner.

Setting your mother or father up with a supportive personal care assistant is highly recommended by your parent’s medical team.  This individual (sometimes it includes more than one caregiver,) will work closely with you and your parent’s medical team to provide the help as it is needed.