Being able to recognize when hoarding is becoming more than just saving items for sentimental reasons is important for families and caretakers. Whether the decisions need to be made for senior care in San Luis Obispo or any other location, this report can help.
PASO ROBLES, Calif. (PRWEB) March 08, 2018
The Manse on Marsh, a leader in senior care in San Luis Obispo, has released the report, “Recognizing the Hoarding Habits of People With Dementia.” Being able to recognize when hoarding is becoming more than just saving items for sentimental reasons is important for families and caretakers. Recognizing the signs is an aid to making important decisions for anyone experiencing memory loss. Whether the decisions need to be made for senior care in San Luis Obispo or any other location, this report can help. Read the report on The Manse on Marsh website or here.
Recognizing the Hoarding Habits of People With Dementia
At a certain age in life, the “little things” can start to add up to be not so little any longer. Dementia, or Alzheimer’s and other memory loss issues, can start to make daily life and tasks more difficult. Hoarding can be an especially difficult issue for families concerned with senior care in San Luis Obispo and everywhere around the country.
One of the earliest signs of dementia is the need to hoard things that aren’t necessarily needed. Some warning signs, like not letting go of useless piles of paper, rubbish, and stockpiling objects on top of furniture are not to be taken lightly.
The people who suffer from dementia are unwilling to let go of old foods, sometimes even past the spoilage dates, in fear that they cannot be replaced. The behaviors like constant rummaging through belongings, anxiety from fear of losing things, and forgetting where things are can be very hard to deal with, for the person suffering with the disease to the caregivers. Things can be lost or misplaced very easily, and forgotten. Frustrating episodes, yelling, arguing and unwillingness to help figure out what is happening can only add to the stress. People who suffer from dementia tend to hide the things that they hoard, and accuse people around them of stealing because they have forgotten where things were. The impulse control becomes worse as time goes on, and a person who once simply collected things they like may spiral out of control and fill a roomful of the same objects.
How can we help people with dementia deal with these sorts of issues? There is no one correct way, but by providing a structured, predictable environment helps to ease the anxiety. Becoming anxious is easily triggered by an unorganized daily schedule, and home full of hoarded objects. Trying to clean up all of the messes may seem helpful, but doing it all at once could make the behaviors become worse. Cleaning up little areas discreetly at first is easiest. Making a path where people can’t trip over things and become injured is first priority, along with garbage and spoiled foods. Having a special place for the hoarded objects to be put, like a drawer or sturdy bin can help keep things a bit more organized. Having compassion and understanding, patience and willingness to work with a person suffering from dementia makes all the difference.
The five R’s of psychology are a good set of tools for caregivers, friends and family members to use when times become difficult. Separating emotional impact of behavioral issues is easier when remembering to use the five R’s:
Remain Calm: Getting upset or frustrated will not help the situation. Instead, staying calm, and dealing with the behavior while calm is the first thing to do.
Respond To Feelings: Give validation to their feelings and encourage them to feel better, taking away any anger or sadness caused by behavior problems.
Reassurance: Always reassuring that love is there and they are cared for helps to remind, and make them feel more secure.
Remove: If the situation isn’t improving, remove yourself from it to regain composure. Being upset won’t help them out, so get control and walk away for a minute to breathe and think more clearly.
Return: Returning to the situation after calming down is a great way to begin healing, reassuring them that everything is going to be okay, and working out the issue isn’t a big deal.
Responding to the erratic behavior the right way can take time to learn: remaining calm, responding to emotions, giving reassurance and lots of love all help to ease anxiety. Giving time, patience and a little organizing helps to maintain sanity when life seems difficult.
The Manse on Marsh
475 Marsh St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 541-4222
Press release by San Luis Obispo SEO company Access Publishing, 806 9th Street, #2D, Paso Robles, CA 93446. (805) 226-9890.
For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2017/12/prweb15032514.htm