By Dr. Éthelle G. Lord, M.Ed., DM
Introduction
Taking care of someone with dementia—like Alzheimer’s—is not just hard. It’s often confusing and frustrating. Many families want to do what’s best, but they’re not sure how. And even professional caregivers and nurses can feel stuck. Why? Because there’s a big problem: the way our system handles dementia care just doesn’t work well.
Let me explain what’s going wrong—and how we can make it better.
What is Dementia?
First, let’s remember that dementia is a condition that affects how the brain works. It can make it hard for people to remember things, think clearly, and do everyday tasks. Because everyone is different, dementia care needs to be special and personalized.
Big Problems in Dementia Care
There are some real challenges in making sure everyone with dementia gets the best care. Here are some of the main ones:
1. Staff Leaving
Many nurses and caregivers leave their jobs after just a couple of years. This is because the work can be very tough, and sometimes they don’t get enough support. When people keep leaving, it’s hard to give consistent care to those who need it.
Possible Solution:
We need to make sure the people who care for those with dementia are treated well and get good pay and working conditions. One idea is for caregivers to work shorter shifts but still get paid for a full day. This can help them feel less tired and more excited to come back to work.
2. Wrong Information
There’s a lot of information out there about dementia, but not all of it is correct. Some books or videos might give the wrong idea, like saying we’re about to find a cure very soon. This can be confusing and even upsetting for people with dementia and their families.
Possible Solution:
We need to be careful where we get our information. Make sure it comes from trusted sources like doctors and experts who really know about dementia.
3. Dementia is Complicated
There are many different types of dementia, and each person needs care that’s right for them. It takes special knowledge and training to know how to help each person the best way.
Possible Solution:
Caregivers need to learn a lot about dementia. They need to understand how to give personal care that’s just right for each individual.
4. Environment Matters
Some scientists think that things in our environment, like air pollution, might make it more likely for people to get dementia.
Possible Solution:
We should all try to keep our environment clean and safe. This means reducing pollution and taking care of our planet.
5. Sometimes People Get Upset
Sadly, sometimes people with dementia can get upset or even aggressive. This often happens when they’re not getting the right kind of care or attention.
Possible Solution:
We need to make sure there are enough people to watch over and help those with dementia. We can also train family members to help give care, so there are more eyes and ears to notice what each person needs.
6. Everyone is Unique
People with dementia need more than just basic care. They need activities and interactions that keep them interested and happy. Just giving everyone the same care isn’t good enough.
Possible Solution:
We need to find out what each person enjoys and what makes them feel good. We can talk to their families and doctors to learn more about them. Then, we can create activities and care plans that fit their unique needs.
Putting It All Together
All of these problems are connected. To really help people with dementia, we need to look at the whole system of care and find solutions that work for everyone.
That’s why I created a special way of caring for people with dementia, called the Transactional Dementia Intelligence (TDI) model. This model looks at all the different parts of care and tries to make them better, from training caregivers to making sure each person gets the right kind of attention.
In Conclusion
Taking care of people with dementia is so important, and we can all play a part in making it better. By understanding the challenges and working together, we can make sure everyone with dementia gets the respect, support, and care they deserve.
About the Author:
Dr. Éthelle G. Lord, M.Ed., DM, is a GSHS practitioner and president of the International Caregivers Association. She is also an author, educator, management coach and presenter. She teaches people how to give the best care to those with dementia. You can learn more about her at www.InternationalCaregiversAssociation.com or Email her directly at lordethelle@gmail.com!
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