This September, as part of World Alzheimer\u2019s Month, Irish care organisation Dovida is encouraging open conversation and sharing practical advice for those affected.<\/p>\n
According to the HSE, 16,967 people in Dublin are currently affected by Alzheimer\u2019s or other forms of dementia, and for every diagnosis, there is often a family navigating the emotional and practical challenges of care.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen a parent, partner, or loved one is diagnosed with dementia, it can feel like everything changes,\u201d Danette Connolly, Director of Clinical Governance at Dovida, said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRoutines, relationships, and responsibilities can be thrown into flux, and for many families, it\u2019s hard to know what to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to have three key principles in mind when caring for a loved one living with dementia,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Establishing a consistent routine is key, as predictability reduces confusion and anxiety.<\/p>\n
Using simple, calm communication techniques like speaking slowly, avoiding arguing or correcting, and validating a loved one with dementia is also suggested.<\/p>\n
Ms Connolly also said that encouraging independence where possible is advisable, like encouraging them to participate in small tasks to maintain dignity and confidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cRoutines, relationships, and responsibilities can be thrown into flux, and for many families, it\u2019s hard to know what to do,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
But dementia care is not always straightforward, especially when a loved one refuses help.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the most difficult challenges relatives of someone living with dementia face, is what to do if they refuse care,\u201d Ms Connolly said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRefusing care often comes from fear, confusion, or a loss of control, but there are a few strategies that may help.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to remember you\u2019re not doing anything wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cRefusing care is a common issue people caring for loved ones with dementia face, but it\u2019s manageable with the right tools and support,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Dovida recommend that a gentle approach should always be used, offering choice and time.<\/p>\n
People may respond better to a professional than a family member, but carers should be introduced gradually so that a loved one can build familiarity.<\/p>\n
Other options include in-home support, local day programmes, or short stays in care facilities.<\/p>\n
As awareness grows this September, families in Dublin are being encouraged not just to speak openly about dementia, but also to seek the tools and support they need.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This September, as part of World Alzheimer\u2019s Month, Irish care organisation Dovida is encouraging open conversation and sharing…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12513,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[103,61,60,3478],"class_list":["post-12512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-health","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-sarah-burke"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12512"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12512\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}