Care Needs During the Different Stages of Dementia

Understanding a person’s needs at different stages of dementia is essential while providing care for them. Dementia is a progressive disorder that affects cognitive abilities, memory, and behaviour. As the disease advances, the level of care required may change.

There are three main stages of dementia: early, middle, and late. While some people’s symptoms advance from early to late quite quickly, others might take years to go through different stages.

Individual care needs will change as they progress through each stage, meaning providing the correct support and facilities to best meet the individual’s care needs is vital.

In this article, we will discuss the three main stages of dementia and the care needs that are required in each stage.

Early-Stage Dementia

In the early stage of dementia, most people function independently. Often, they still take part in social activities, volunteer and even work. However, they will be experiencing problems which affect their everyday living.

Some signs of early dementia are:

• Loss of memory or struggling to concentrate
• Getting lost in familiar places
• Difficult planning and making decisions
• Changes in personality and behaviour
• Mood changes

Care Needs

The early stage of dementia can be very overwhelming to someone experiencing life-changing differences. Although each individual’s needs may slightly differ, a few of the care needs that should be met are:

• Daily routines
• A relaxing environment
• Reducing stress
• Doing activities together/Physical activity
• Keeping independence
• Creating reminders for appointments, medication etc.
• Attending early-stage support groups

Middle-Stage Dementia

The longest stage of dementia is usually the middle stage, which can last for many years. The individual with dementia will need more specialist dementia care as their dementia worsens.

Damage to the brain during the middle stage of dementia can make it challenging to verbalise thoughts and carry out everyday tasks. Dementia patients may experience jumbled speech, difficulty dressing, frustration or anger, or unexpected behaviours like refusing to take a bath.

Care needs

The person with dementia may begin to perform fewer tasks on their own and their abilities may change. It will be essential to modify everyday routines, and structure will become increasingly crucial.

Middle stage Dementia care needs:

• Patience and sensitivity
• Assistance with dressing
• Assistance with meal preparation
• Assistance with grooming
• Daily activities to prevent wandering
• Using a calm voice
• Use simple written reminders

Late-stage Dementia

The majority of a person’s life will be severely impacted by dementia by the time they enter the late-stage of dementia. Eventually, the individual will require specialist dementia care and full-time assistance with everyday activities and personal care.

Care needs:

An individual with late-stage dementia will require very specific care. Individuals at this time usually need:

• Assistance moving around
• Fulltime personal care
• Help with eating
• Help with hydration
• Establishing and maintaining a restroom routine
• Help with communication
• Support with medical care

The world is mostly perceived through the senses at this stage. Using taste, smell, sound, touch, and sight is a good way to show them you care, you can do this by:

• Sitting outside together
• Looking through old photos
• Reading familiar books
• Playing their favourite music

Throughout all stages of the disease, it is crucial to create a supportive environment that fosters dignity, provides comfort, and engages the individual, while coordinating with providers to address medical needs and adapting care strategies as the condition progresses.

Regardless of the stage of the disease, caring for someone with dementia can be difficult and entails offering them all-encompassing, empathetic support that has to be customised to meet their changing requirements. The Bill House aims to maintain maximum independence and quality of life for every resident, with specialist dementia care created according to individual needs.

If you’re looking for specialist dementia care for a loved one of yours, contact us here.