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Dementia
Alzheimer's Disease

Taking on the Role as a Care Partner for Someone with Dementia

John Trevey on Feb 1, 2023
Taking on the Role as a Care Partner for Someone with Dementia - The Breckinridge Memory Care - Lexington, KY

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Table of Contents
  1. Share this Infographic Image On Your Site
  2. What is a care partner?
  3. Communication challenges
  4. Dealing with stress and distress
  5. Physical challenges
  6. Personal challenges
  7. Caregivers’ Bill of Rights
  8. Deciding on the future
  9. See this as an opportunity for growth

What is a care partner?

What is a Care Partner? - Dementia - The Breckinridge, Lexington, KY

You’ve probably heard the terms caregiver and caretaker. These are people who take care of someone who is unable to fully care for himself due to illness, age or disability. Caretaker is the term often used to describe someone who is paid to care for someone else while caregiver more often refers to a family member who is caring for another family, most often a child taking care of her parent or a spouse taking care of a spouse.

A care partner is similar to a caregiver in this way. It’s simply someone who is dedicated to helping his or her loved one who has an illness or disability with activities of daily living, medications, transportation and overall well-being.

(Some might define care partner as more of a two-way agreement between two loved ones who agree to care for one another, but care partner is often interchangeable with caregiver.)

If your loved one has dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, perhaps you have recently agreed to be his or her care partner. This can be a difficult transition to make, full of challenges for you and the one you’re caring for, but as more and more people are living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, more and more people are becoming care partners. Because of this, there is a wealth of information and support available for those who’ve taken on this important role.

Communication challenges

What is a Care Partner? - Dementia - The Breckinridge, Lexington, KY

The first challenge you will probably face as a care partner for someone with dementia is communication. As your loved one begins to lose his have memory issues and certain cognitive functions, you simply won’t be able to communicate with him the way you used to. That’s why it’s important to learn new communication strategies.

Alzheimer’s experts from the Mayo Clinic have several helpful suggestions:

  • Talk to your loved one like an adult. Don’t talk down to him. That’s demeaning and can further exacerbate your communication challenges. Talk to him as if he is the same person you’ve always known and loved, because he is.
  •   Slow down the pace of the conversation so your loved one can follow more easily.
  •  Give instructions one step at a time so as not to overwhelm your loved one.
  •  Use simple words and phrases rather than abstract concepts or ideas. These can be difficult to follow for someone with dementia and could further frustrate her.
  •  Focus on your nonverbal communication. A smile, hug or a squeeze of the hand can go a long way when communicating with someone with Alzheimer’s. They know what these gestures mean, and if they can sense your goodwill, they are more likely to listen to you and understand you.
  •  Avoid asking questions that require memory. For example, instead of asking how many grandchildren do you have? Ask how does it feel to have 14 grandchildren?

Dealing with stress and distress

What is a Care Partner? - Dementia - The Breckinridge, Lexington, KY

Stress and exhibiting signs of distress are common for those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia because their world has been turned upside-down. Especially if the disease is progressing quickly, this can be very disorienting. They may use frustration, anger or agitation to communicate that they are in pain or need something.

Learning why your loved one is showing signs of distress or agitation is important. Don’t assume the answer is they’re “losing their minds.” Most likely, they are trying to communicate something to you. They just don’t know how. Determine what their current need might be and meet it as best you can. As you continue to care for your loved one, you will better be able to decode their stress signals.

Physical challenges

What is a Care Partner? - Dementia - The Breckinridge, Lexington, KY

At some point you will likely have to help your loved one with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as dressing, bathing and going to the bathroom. This can be hard for the caretaker and the one being cared for. We are used to being independent and able to care for ourselves. When we can’t, that’s a difficult reality to face. You may both feel shame on some level for having to assist, or need assistance, in this area. This is a normal part of the disease process.

The Alzheimer’s Association in the UK offers excellent resources on how to care for a loved one and their physical needs, including advice and tips for washing and dressing and incontinence.

If the ADLs are too taxing on you physically or emotionally, consider bringing in help. This can be a professional caregiver you hire or a fellow family member who can assist in this area.

Personal challenges

Caregiver Bill of Rights - The Breckinridge - Lexington, KY

One of the greatest challenges care partners face is caring for themselves. It’s easy to put the life of the person you’re caring for first. But you can’t care for someone else if you’re not caring for yourself.

Because this has been such a common challenge for caregivers, advocates for caregivers have developed the “caregiver’s bill of rights” to help caregivers prioritize their physical and mental health.

Caregivers’ Bill of Rights

I have the right . . .

  • To take care of myself. This is not an act of selfishness. It will give me the capability of taking better care of my loved one.
  •  To seek help from others even though my loved ones may object. I recognize the limits of my own endurance and strength.
  •  To maintain facets of my own life that do not include the person I care for, just as I would if he or she were healthy. I know that I do everything that I reasonably can for this person, and I have the right to do something just for myself.
  •  To get angry, be depressed, and express other difficult feelings occasionally.

You can read the rest of your bill of rights here.

With any other job, self-care is encouraged. Why would that not also be true, and especially true, for caregiving?

Part of caring for yourself may include finding support from other caregivers and care partners. There are numerous support groups for caregivers of Alzheimer’s and dementia. To find one near you, visit your local Alzheimer’s Association chapter.

Deciding on the future

Inevitably, you will have to decide what the best next step is for your loved one when his or her dementia has progressed to a certain point. Most people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia eventually need full-time, professional care. You will likely need to consider getting more help at home, or you will need to consider where your loved one will live. Memory care facilities like The Breckinridge exist for this transition and crucial next step in your loved one’s journey.

Read our article 5 Signs Your Loved One Requires Memory Care to learn more.

See this as an opportunity for growth

While being a care partner for someone living with dementia can be incredibly challenging, it can also be incredibly rewarding. You will get to know a new side of yourself and a new side of the one you’re caring for. Your relationship will be stretched and likely strengthened as you learn new ways to communicate. You will realize you’re capable of more than you thought, and you will rise to challenges you never thought possible.

As you face the challenges being a care partner can bring, stay open to the ways you are growing as a result, what you are learning and how your relationship with your loved one is deepening as you face this new chapter together.

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Covid Information

Continuing an Environment of Caring in Times of COVID-19


Safety of Residents and Staff

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to evolve, our communities are focused on keeping our Residents and staff safe while also maintaining Resident engagement and daily fulfillment. We are taking a cautious approach, balancing the highest level of safety within the least restrictive environment.

We will continue to follow and augment State and C.D.C. safety recommendations:

Screening: We screen every employee every day. We require our staff to complete a questionnaire (inquiring about possible symptoms, recent travel and exposure), have their temperature and oxygen level checked before entering the building. Staff are also required to clean their cell phones, keys and wash their hands while being observed. We monitor our Residents’ health closely with temperature and oxygen level checks at least twice a day. We help our Residents wash their hands throughout the day and encourage them to wear a mask or face covering.

Cleaning: We have enhanced our cleaning products with regard for their effectiveness in killing COVID-19 particles and proper sanitization and disinfection, using the EPA’s specific list of disinfectants for use against the coronavirus. We are using this list and training staff on how long cleaning solutions must be kept on a surface before wiping it off to ensure its effectiveness. We prioritize cleaning high-touch areas and horizontal surfaces, cleaning them several times a day.

Physical Distancing: We encourage 6 foot distancing between Residents and with staff unless they are providing direct care to a Resident.

Testing: We test all Residents and staff for COVID-19 every three weeks, and more as needed. Our nurses utilize a PCR test, which we send to a private lab to expedite results.

Physical Changes: We have installed ultraviolet lights in our air conditioners that supply air to the common areas of the houses. This method is believed to be helpful in killing bacteria that is cycled through the systems and pushed back into the house. We’ve also enhanced our HVAC filters to near HEPA levels, trying to add additional layers of protection to keep COVID-19 out of the building. Most importantly, air purifiers have been added to common areas and each resident room.

PPE: Staff members wear masks at all times and we encourage Residents to wear masks when outside their rooms. We also encourage physical distancing between our Residents. Staff wears additional protective equipment when deemed necessary while caring for our Residents. Staff are continually trained on when and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE).

Individual Needs Stay Paramount

The uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 affects us all. At our communities, we are not letting it stop us from safely offering a life well-lived. Above all, we are providing the utmost attention to the safety and well-being of our Residents. Our Program has always revolved around the individualized needs of each Resident and this has not changed during COVID-19. Residents are still able to connect with each other and staff while maintaining a safe physical distance. Weather permitting, we enjoy the patio and large backyard. We continue to keep our Residents engaged through cognitive, physical, recreational experiences. We offer enjoyment and connection throughout the day even during these unprecedented times.

Visitors

Since early March we have restricted facility access to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Essential Visitors: Healthcare providers including physicians, home health, private duty services, physical therapy and hospice staff have not been allowed in the communities unless there is an acute, essential need for our Residents. These services continue as needed through FaceTime, tele-med and phone conversations. If physical access is absolutely necessary, the individual will complete our questionnaire and screening for temperature and oxygen stats. No one is allowed in the community if they fail to meet our screening criteria.

Families: We are happy to help schedule window visits, FaceTime, Zoom and phone calls with your loved ones based on what is allowed and prudent. To ensure the proper support from our staff, our visits are scheduled ahead of time.

Tours and Move-Ins

Tours: We recognize that regardless of the changes with COVID-19, your need for senior living hasn’t changed. For the safety of you, our Residents and staff, we are currently offering virtual tours where you can see our community, as well as meet our staff. Please contact our Community Relations Director to set up a virtual tour.

Move-Ins: We are accepting a limited number of move-ins (unless otherwise instructed by public health department). New Residents must be tested for COVID-19 prior to move-in. Upon admission, we will place a new resident in their room to quarantine as an additional precaution.

We will share community-specific information with residents and families as our quarantine measures continue to evolve with new information of COVID-19.

We are honored to care for your family member and loved one.

 

Comments we’ve received from our families during COVID-19.

“We appreciate all of your efforts. Your team clearly is a leader in the response to COVID. Thank you for keeping our loved ones safe.”

Joseph

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for ALL you have done and are doing to keep the residents and staff in a safe environment! The continuous learning and improvements empower caregivers and families to do better at home and in our communities.”

Tommy

“I appreciate you taking the time to update us and share them with my family living in AL, GA, VA, MD, FL…we are extremely grateful and comforted by your proactive and decisive measures! We’ll continue to keep you in prayer for health, safety and more.”

Rebecca

“In keeping with the parade theme you had, the employees there are super heroes. They are plowing forward in the midst of this horrible virus and taking care of their patients selflessly. I just wanted to acknowledge their bravery and dedication and thank them from the bottom of my heart for the goodness in their hearts and their dedication to their patients and jobs.”

Abigail

“Thank you! You locked down early & your diligence has paid well.

The Bader support group continues meeting once a month by Zoom. We all appreciate you so much. Everyone comments on how grateful we are that our parents are at The Breckinridge!

We appreciate everything: sending us pictures, calls, alerts to bring supplies/clothes as needed, staying in virtual contact with hospice.
Blessings to each of you.”

Marsha

“Thank you for all y’all and all the staff are doing for my mom and the other residents. We truly appreciate your hard work.”

Carol

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