Dementia is a disease that primarily affects memory. After receiving an official diagnosis, it is important to know what comes next and how to navigate the waters from this point forward. Building a solid support system will be extremely beneficial for everyone involved, but there are other management strategies too. Here is how to move forward after a dementia diagnosis.

Take Time to Understand Dementia

Dementia is a degenerative condition. It can affect a lot of things within the mind and eventually leads to a physical decline as well. Often, a diagnosis is not found until the patient is in the throes of the disease already. This means treatment needs to start immediately. While there is no cure, there are management techniques and treatments to alleviate symptoms. Talk to a medical professional and set out a clear care plan for everyone to be able to move forward. Research as much as you can about what is to come so you feel fully prepared and try to keep an open narrative as far as possible.

Think About the Living Situation

By the later stages of dementia, the patient will require constant care, supervision, and intervention. This is quite normal, and to be fully expected. It doesn’t make it any easier as a loved one standing by; however, considering a care home, full time carer, or assisted living facility as viable options is a useful route to explore. Dementia can lead to a complete breakdown in the ability to maintain personal hygiene, hold a conversation, and manage diet or other basic functions. It is a hard condition to look after and takes a real toll on mental capacity too. Finding somewhere supportive to live that has constant supervision and care structure is the safest option.

Research Help for Dietary Support

Dementia comes with a lot of problems with eating and muscle strength. A part of this can come to light with conditions like dysphagia taking hold, which affects the person’s ability to swallow and therefore eat or drink. Exploring options like Simply Thick can regift some dignity and autonomy into this structure because they are specifically tailored to supply necessary nutrients and make eating and drinking easier. Sticking to a soft food diet and refocusing on ensuring that dementia patients get enough nutrients and hydration is the best way forward.

Stick with a Routine

Routines are amazing things for dementia sufferers and their carers. Every single person who has a role to play in their life can be an active participant in creating a reliable structure for their life to run around while they are able to remain independent. While it won’t last forever, having something reliable and knowing where you are going from and coming to majorly supports the person through episodes of increased confusion and general disorientation.

Dementia is a hard condition. It affects all aspects of the mind and the body and is difficult to manage around daily life. Finding the best, most helpful support network in a care home or similar is a good path forward alongside gaining a better insight into what is to come.

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