Age-related cognitive decline can be slowed down by following healthy lifestyle habits, but most seniors still experience some changes in their thinking and reasoning abilities. Your senior loved one’s care plan should include strategies to manage age-related cognitive decline so he or she stays safe. Make sure to monitor any changes in your loved one’s memory and thinking skills. Then use these ideas as a springboard for a plan that addresses common cognitive issues for seniors.
Create a Structured Schedule
Seniors need structured schedules to help them remember what to do next. Your loved one benefits from waking up at the same time each day and doing things in the same order. If you need to schedule an appointment for your parent, try to make it for a time when your loved one won’t be engaged in a primary activity, such as eating a meal at its normally scheduled time. Your loved one can ease back into his or her routine more easily and feel more secure.
Older adults with severe cognitive challenges may find it difficult to manage everyday tasks on their own. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of elderly home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Establish a Medication Management Plan
Cognitive changes include forgetfulness that can interfere with the ability to take medication properly. Your loved one may skip a pill or accidentally take a double dose. Medication times should be included in your loved one’s daily routine, and you can use an alarm system to help you keep track of when he or she needs to take another dose.
Provide In-Home Supervision
As your loved one’s cognitive abilities decrease further, he or she may begin to do things that are dangerous or risky. Seniors with severe cognitive decline might get lost while going on walks around the neighborhood or fail to recognize hazards in the home. Arranging for supervision from a home caregiver can help your loved one stay safe when you’re away.
Seniors can gain a variety of benefits when they have the help of professional caregivers trained in methods designed to boost cognitive health. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of homecare services. Lincoln families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
Address Potential Challenges with Driving
Driving requires being able to make swift and rational decisions to prevent accidents. The changes in your loved one’s thinking abilities could cause him or her to be more easily distracted and have slower reaction times.
Seniors who drive may also find themselves getting lost once they begin to have severe memory issues. Transportation assistance is an option that eliminates this worry. Many seniors are happy to give up their keys and let other people take them to and from places, since it allows them to relax.
Use Memory Aids
There are many ways to compensate for decreasing memory. Try using a schedule or chart your loved one can follow while going through his or her daily routine. Memory aids can be written notes or picture reminders. Choose what works best for your loved one, and be consistent.
Plan Stimulating Activities
Seniors may need to adjust their activities as their cognitive abilities make it difficult to do certain things. For instance, your loved one might find it challenging to read a book but may understand better if he or she listens to someone else read the text. Seniors may also need to switch to simpler puzzles and games, but they should continue to do them to preserve their skills.
Aging in place can present a few unique challenges for older adults. Some only require part-time assistance with exercise or meal preparation, while others are living with serious illnesses and benefit more significantly from receiving live-in care. Lincoln, CA, Home Care Assistance are leaders in the elderly in-home care industry for good reason. We tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual needs, our caregivers continue to receive updated training in senior care as new developments arise, and we also offer comprehensive care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s. If you need professional home care for your loved one, reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (916) 226-3737.