Implications of dementia in family dynamics

Source:https://www.pexels.com/

Implications of dementia in family dynamics

The illness or physical limitation in a person causes changes in the lives of other family members, who have to make changes in the functions or role of each one within the family, such as: the daughter who takes care of the mother; the wife who besides all the tasks now takes care of the bedridden husband; the husband who has to assume the housework and care for the children, because the wife is disabled. All these changes can generate insecurity and disagreements, so it is important that the family, the caregiver and the health team talk and plan home care actions.

Source:https://www.pexels.com/

Implications of dementia in family dynamics

The best place for an elderly person with dementia will be one where effective and quality care is guaranteed. It will be within family that each person will receive the necessary care to feel good physically and emotionally. The advantage of staying at home is the person keep his references that has been acquired throughout his life, especially a person with dementia (his room, his bed, his paintings, his belongings, his history), which conveys security and greater tranquility.

When  person with dementia moves to in with his child or another family member, this change can cause some adaptation problems due to the lack of references, which can worsen his mental and functional state. If this is the only possible solution, it is necessary to implement strategies to mitigate the impact of the change, trying to make the “new” environment more familiar.