Nearly 50 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer’s or related dementia. This has caused numerous challenges in the care sector and also for everyday people providing dementia care to their loved ones.
From a lack of understanding of the disease to insufficient numbers of qualified care staff, read on to discover the main challenges of caring for Alzheimer’s patients, along with the most effective solutions for each one.
-
A lack of knowledge
There is a distinct lack of understanding surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and this can make caring for a loved one even more challenging.
Instead, of Googling “Alzheimer’s prognosis” and “dementia symptoms,” which can provide incorrect and distressing information that does more harm than good, it is a much better idea to speak with a qualified healthcare professional or a charitable organization that specializes in dementia care.
-
A lack of qualified nurses
Not everyone has what it takes to look after someone with Alzheimer’s disease, both in terms of emotional capabilities and physical knowledge.
Known as a challenging and demanding sector of care, there are not currently enough qualified nurses and carers to deal with the number of patients.
To overcome this, the sector must offer attractive pay packages, training opportunities, and flexible working arrangements.
-
Adapting to new technologies
There are a number of ways in which technological advancements are being used in the care sector, particularly in dementia care. For example, artificial intelligence can be used to great effect to predict patients’ behaviors which can then help to keep them safe and prevent them from getting lost or injuring themselves.
Virtual reality devices are also useful and can help with memory therapy by placing patients in familiar surroundings and reminding them about the past.
Adapting to all these new technologies can be a challenge for care homes and their staff members but it is essential in order to keep patients safe, cared for, and content.
-
Feelings of loneliness
For those with Alzheimer’s disease, life can be very lonely and isolating. The world can also be a very scary and confusing place, especially for those in the later stages of this disease.
Depression and anxiety are common mental health problems in people living with Alzheimer’s and this can cause the disease to progress a lot more quickly.
Purpose-built dementia care units, for example, this Signature care home at Highgate, can be highly effective at keeping Alzheimer’s patients calm and also enabling them to be around other people. These buildings are specifically designed and decorated to soothe and relax people living with dementia and are run by dementia nurses who are both experienced and skilled in this disease.
-
The risk of burnout
For primary caregivers, the risk of burnout in those looking after patients with Alzheimer’s is higher than in most other long-term illnesses. Causing a whole host of potential health problems (both physical and mental) burnout is a serious form of exhaustion that can take months to recover from.
In order to avoid this, caregivers should make sure that they take time out from caring when they start to feel overly stressed or overwhelmed and indulge in self-care practices such as meditation, yoga, or jogging.
