Early Dementia – The Vital Caring Tips

In early dementia stages, family members face concerns, and caregivers may lose free time and experience financial strain. The person experiencing cognitive changes is often aware of what they are losing, causing frustration, denial, and difficulty adapting to lifestyle changes. These changes can be particularly challenging as they usually involve losing independence and relying on others for everyday activities. At this stage, periodic confusion (such as forgetting names or places) and perceptual changes (such as difficulty judging distances) may mean the loss of a driver’s license, which represents a significant loss of independence. Family members and spouses are more alert to safety issues, leading to a loss of privacy. Direct care is often unnecessary; caregivers can frequently leave their family members alone for periods.

John, a retired teacher who loved golfing, playing cards, and spending time with his grandchildren, was diagnosed with early dementia. In response, his daughter Sarah, her husband Mike, and the rest of the family showed remarkable resilience. They adjusted their behavior, managed their frustrations, and embarked on a journey to understand dementia and adapt to the changing lifestyle. 

Despite multiple minor fender-bender incidences, John was upset and refused to lose his driving privileges. He denied anything serious. Sarah and Mike had an honest conversation with him about the risks and suggested alternative transportation options. This conversation involved expressing their concerns about his safety and the safety of others, listening to his feelings and fears, and exploring potential solutions. It took many attempts and minor changes: inviting John’s buddies to play card games at home, scheduling where Mike and Sarah would take turns driving John, hire car rides or community transport to appointments, social gatherings, and other activities. It was an adjustment for everyone, but the family was relieved that John could continue enjoying his retired life.

Daily Life with Simplified Tasks and Safety Measures

1. Safety Support

To ensure John’s safety if he ever got lost or forgot where he was, Mike took a few proactive measures:

• GPS Tracker: They got him a small GPS tracker he could carry in his wallet. This allowed them to locate him quickly if he wandered off.
• ID Bracelet: John wore an ID bracelet with his name, address, and Sarah’s contact information.
• Phone Setup: They set up a location tracker, programmed his phone with unique numbers on speed dial, and saved his home address as a favorite location on a map app.

2. Simplifying Daily Tasks

To help John maintain a sense of independence while ensuring his safety, Sarah and Mike simplified various instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs):

Cooking:

• • Pre-Prepared Ingredients: Sarah prepped ingredients for meals in advance, chopped vegetables, and measured spices, so John only had to follow simple steps to assemble everything.
  • Visual Recipes: They created visual recipe cards with step-by-step pictures for his favorite dishes, making it easier for him to follow along.
  • Slow Cooker Meals: They often used a slow cooker, where John could add the ingredients in the morning and have a hot meal ready by dinner time without much supervision.

Grocery Shopping:

• Shopping Lists: Sarah and John made shopping lists together, organizing items by aisle to make the process smoother. They also used large, clear prints to make John’s reading easier.
• Store Navigation: They frequented the same grocery store, where staff were familiar with John and could assist if needed. Mike often accompanied him, helping to locate items and reminding him of the list.
• Online Shopping: Occasionally, they opted for online grocery shopping with home delivery to reduce the stress and confusion of navigating the store.

Managing Money:

Sarah and Mike understand that they must respect John’s independence. Many older adults may resist having someone else take over their finances. They brought up topics such as John’s future financial plans, bill payments, and housing situation. John agreed to 

• Talk about budgeting: Discuss with a financial advisor to help John develop a spending and savings plan.
• Reduce credit and debit cards: If they’re concerned about overspending, they may also want to put limits on their cards.
• Set up automatic payments: Set up standing orders or direct debits for regular bills and subscriptions.

Housework:

• • Task Breakdown: Sarah broke down housework into simple, manageable tasks. For example, instead of cleaning the entire kitchen, John would focus on wiping down the counters or loading the dishwasher.
  • Checklists: They used checklists for daily chores, with each step clearly outlined. John could check off tasks on the large calendar in the kitchen to track appointments and activities as he completed them, giving him a sense of accomplishment.
  • Labeling: Sarah labeled drawers and cabinets with pictures and words, making it easier for John to find and put away items correctly.

Sarah established a routine, ensuring John was eating right, taking medication, and doing his gardening and fishing activities. Establishing these routines early also helped Sarah and Mike develop better time management skills. 

Family dinners became a time of togetherness. They encouraged John to share his teaching stories, keeping him engaged and stimulated. Family meetings helped them discuss John’s progress and adjust their approach.

Sarah also made sure to take care of her needs. She joined a volunteer organization, the Ladies Infinity Club, where she found comfort and advice from others in similar situations. Mike often took the kids out for activities, giving Sarah some quiet time to relax and recharge.