2210 Hancock Drive, Austin, TX 78756 • 512-450-0844
Guardianship Services • 5205 Airport Blvd, Ste 200, Austin, TX 78751
Serving older adults, people with disabilities, and those who care for them
It doesn't matter if your dad thinks today is Monday or not. Pick your battles and take on something only if it poses a safety concern.
Your husband has always had a stubborn streak and nothing has changed now that he has dementia. Try distracting him with things he really likes to do. Often you can manage his behavior without getting into a conflict. Maybe he wants to go to the grocery store. Offer to make him a hot fudge sundae and tell him you have everything you need without going to the store.
Can't figure out why your mother keeps going to the bathroom? Get her a check-up with her doctor. Perhaps she has a urinary tract infection and needs antibiotics.
Remember that big windstorm that knocked down lots of small branches recently? Leave them until you really need to distract your husband, and then get him out there! He has always enjoyed yard work and can be happy and engaged for hours.
Try to do the activities at a similar time each day. Break the activity down into small steps. Offer praise for each step completed.
If your dad or mom is prone to wandering, register them with the Alzheimer's Association's Safe Return program.
Remove the locks on bathroom doors to prevent from accidentally locking.
Use childproof latches on kitchen cabinets and any place where cleaning supplies or other chemicals are kept. Label medications and keep them locked up. Secure knives, lighters, matches, guns, etc.
Use simple words, short sentences, and a gentle, calm tone of voice. Avoid talking as if your husband weren't there. Call your husband by name to make sure you have his attention before speaking. Allow enough time for a response.
Think about ways to bring pleasure and joy to someone with dementia. What type
of music did your wife like to listen to? What food did she like?
Did she like to hear you sing? Or play the piano?
Set a peaceful tone in the evening to encourage sleep. Develop a bedtime routine. Use nightlights if the darkness is frightening or disorienting.
Do you have at least 15 minutes to volunteer? Would you like to help bring older adults together over the phone through games, trivia, discussions on topics of interest and current events? Click Here to visit our In-Home Care website and find out more about senior networking over the phone through Lifetime Connections Without Walls.
Help us serve our clients just by shopping at Randalls! While you are at Randalls, pick up a Good Neighbor application at the cash office and request to have your Remarkable Card linked to Family Eldercare (5493). Randalls will then donate a percentage of your purchases throughout the year to Family Eldercare so that we can help elders and adults with disabilities maintain their independence and dignity. If you have any questions, please contact Krystal at 512-483-3557.
To donate please contact kwilson@familyeldercare.org.
It doesn't matter if your dad thinks today is Monday or not. Pick your battles and take on something only if it poses a safety concern. read more »
Victims of elder abuse fall into a group of victims that are hidden from our society at large. Broadly defined there are three basic categories of elder abuse: domestic, institutional, and self-neglect or self-abuse.
The following breaks down the factors that increase the risk of elder abuse: read more »
