How to Create a Dementia Care Plan

If a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, they may need a dementia care plan. Learn why & how Sagecare creates dementia care plans for your loved ones.

Preparing a dementia care plan is incredibly helpful for both the individual living with dementia and their caregiver. It can be challenging to watch your loved one struggle with daily activities as a spouse or child and creating a personalized plan can put your mind at ease and lend them a helping hand.

People in any stage of dementia may require some assistance. However, it is best to sort things out in the earlier stages. At Sagecare, we help create specialized dementia care plans for residents as part of our dementia care in Toronto to establish a routine catered to their unique needs and capabilities.

Consider the benefits of working with the elder care specialists at Sagecare to create a personalized dementia care plan catered to helping your loved one facilitate a fulfilling and seamless day-to-day.

Before Dementia Care Planning

Understand Dementia

Before you dive into dementia care planning, you need to know the basics about dementia. Dementia is a general term used to describe challenges with memory, cognitive abilities, and communication. There are different forms of dementia, the most common one being Alzheimer’s disease.

Those who develop dementia will often experience on-set symptoms around the age of 65, but in some cases, symptoms can arise slowly in people aged 30-50.

When is it Time to Get Professional Care?

It may not always be possible for you to keep an eye on the senior who has been diagnosed with dementia, and dementia care homes can relieve you and your family member by providing this level of care and attention. Sagecare is a specialized dementia care provider with trained nurses and care specialists. Moving your loved one into a home-like setting where residents can age in place will be the best gift you can offer them. This level of professional care will also come with a personalized care plan to ensure your loved one is getting the unique care they need.

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What is a Dementia Care Plan?

Care plans for dementia are designed to assist the person living with dementia and the caregiver. The plan will be comprised of personal information about the resident and a list of their daily activities and should consist of information about the individual’s cognitive abilities. Also, a care plan will often mention the individual’s likes, dislikes, other health conditions, and food preferences so that a primary caregiver like a nurse is aware of these crucial factors.

Why Create a Dementia Care Plan?

Although there is no cure for dementia, help from doctors through cognitive training, therapy, and medication can slow down its progression. A dementia care plan will outline the right balance of these elements to help facilitate this delayed progression. 

In some cases, however, slowing down the rate might not be possible.  A person with dementia or experiencing similar symptoms will want to get an official diagnosis from a doctor. Doctors will be able to suggest ways to control the symptoms and reduce the progression of the disease. These methods can be effectively implemented through a personalized dementia care plan.

How Can You Create a Dementia Care Plan?

If a loved one in your family has been diagnosed with any form of dementia, a dementia care plan will help ease them into a particular lifestyle and effectively communicate important information with any caregiver.

Here’s what should be included in a dementia care plan for effective communication and healthcare:

1. A Daily Checklist 

Since individuals with dementia often have trouble remembering things, it can be helpful for their care plan to include a list for them to follow every day. Dementia care plans can consist of lists with tasks and timings for each activity. Checking these boxes every day could enable them to complete all their daily tasks.

A daily checklist can include any of the following:

• Reminders to brush teeth, shower, and get dressed.
• Meal and eating schedules
• Physical activity (walks, etc.)
• Suggested social activities
• Chores
• Hobbies

2. Social Interaction

It’s easy to feel lonely when spending all of your time alone. Encourage your loved ones to engage in conversation and activities with other people. If you decide to move them into a memory care home, introduce your family members to other residents. A communication care plan will enable them to get to know others and build connections.

One benefit of memory care with a person-centered care approach is that numerous residents in the same place can help each other out. By partaking in daily activities such as walks or dinners, residents will feel happier since they will receive companionship. At Sagecare, we encourage everyone to feel part of our family by facilitating interaction and community between staff and residents.

3. Create Brain Training Activities

A daily care plan for dementia should include brain exercises that encourage them to train their brain. Keeping their minds active may slow down memory loss and help them use those skills to perform daily tasks more efficiently.

Some exercises to include in a plan to keep the brain active can include crosswords, puzzles, and board games. Other tasks such as learning a musical instrument, or a second language can also stimulate the brain. 

4. Reinforce Physical Exercise

Physical activities can feel more challenging when an individual starts ageing, but they should be part of an individual’s dementia care plan for as long as it’s feasible. Along with their physical health, such as weight maintenance and leg functions, integrating exercise can also prompt an individual’s brain to perform better.

Living in home-like dementia care facilities staffed with registered nurses can help an individual age gracefully. Since registered nurses know what activities can help people at different ages, they will design plans to integrate physical activity and encourage residents to engage in engaging, memory-based activities that align with their specific needs.

A Plan for Caregivers

A dementia care plan is incredibly useful to caregivers as it allows them to help facilitate and plan out an individual’s day, and also allows caregivers to communicate with one another and ensure important resident information is passed on. It also allows caregivers to monitor progress.

The main objective of dementia care plans is to make your loved one’s life easier, so don’t be too hard on yourself and know that the entire process is new for both of you. Take things step-by-step and seek professional advice whenever you deem necessary. Once you become familiar with the process, things will get simpler, and a dementia care plan can help with this.