Social connection can be challenging to maintain for people living with dementia. Thankfully, memory care provides access to round-the-clock care, resources, and community for loved ones, but it can sometimes mean you spend less time with them.
If you have a loved one who’s living in a memory care community, you may be wondering if you can visit them too much. Finding the sweet spot of spending quality time and giving them space to flourish independently differs from person to person.
Learn to recognize signs of overstimulation and consult with your healthcare provider and memory care staff on the ideal timing of certain activities to find the right balance. There are also ways to prepare for a visit to make it more comfortable and enjoyable.
Dementia Explained
Dementia is not a singular disease but a name given to a group of symptoms. These symptoms include problems with memory and cognition. There are many types of dementia, including:
- Alzheimer’s disease: The most common form of dementia, 60-80% of people with dementia have Alzheimer’s disease.
- Vascular dementia: The second most common form of dementia, vascular dementia occurs when there are problems with blood flow in the brain.
- Dementia with Lewy bodies: This type of dementia is attributed to abnormalities in the brain known as Lewy bodies.
- Mixed dementia: This type of dementia happens when there are multiple causes of dementia symptoms, such as vascular problems combined with the protein deposits associated with Alzheimer’s.
Stages of Dementia
Dementia progresses differently for everyone, but there are typical stages that many people follow. Understanding these stages can help caregivers consider how and when to visit a loved one.
Mild Stage
At this stage, a person with dementia can still participate in many of their usual activities, such as driving, working, and socializing. However, they may experience issues like not being able to recall a word or name, misplacing objects, or forgetting something right after reading it.
People at this stage can still live well and may appreciate frequent visits.
Moderate Stage
This stage is often the longest and can happen for many years. Characteristics include moodiness, forgetfulness, confusion, and wandering. People may need support with personal care, and sleep may be challenging.
At this stage, people with dementia can still participate in many activities but will likely need more support.
Severe Stage
At this stage, the person with dementia likely needs round-the-clock care. They may lose the ability to carry on a conversation or may seem unaware of their environment. Bodily functions like swallowing and moving around become difficult. They may also be more vulnerable to infections.
Social contact can still benefit people at this stage. However, they may be easily overstimulated or overwhelmed, so focus on calm and comforting activities like gently holding the person’s hand as you listen to music.
Visiting Someone with Dementia: What to Consider
Staying social can be very beneficial to people living with dementia. In one study, people with dementia experienced an increased quality of life when social interaction was increased to just one hour a week.
Timing
Consider the time of day when you’re planning to visit someone with dementia. For instance, visiting earlier may be helpful if your loved one gets tired later in the day or is prone to sundowning.
If your loved one lives in a memory care community, discuss with the staff the best time to visit, as there may be scheduled activities to work around. Because people with dementia thrive on routine, having a consistent and predictable visiting schedule may also help.
Number of Visitors
Too many visitors at once can be overwhelming and overstimulating for a person with dementia, especially in the later stages of the disease. If you have a large family or a group of people in town who want to visit, consider having one or two people visit at a time. Shorter visits can be of higher quality and may cause less stress for the person with dementia.
Activities
If you’re visiting someone with dementia, don’t expect them to host. Instead, come ready with things to do! You can bring family photo albums to discuss or take a walk in the courtyard. If your loved one lives in a memory care community, there may be special events and activities the two of you can enjoy together.
Distress & Fatigue
Be alert for signs of distress and fatigue in your loved one. Some people with dementia experience a more agitated state as the day draws to an end. This is called sundowning, which can happen if the person is overstimulated during the day.
Short visits are often recommended, but it’s also important not to rush. Finding the right balance of social interaction for your loved one may take some time and practice.
Importance of Social Interaction
Social activities can promote brain health and, potentially, delay the onset of dementia. So, make time to spend with your loved one and do activities they enjoy. Many people with dementia are capable of simplified versions of tasks—they may just need some extra support and patience.
Finding Balance
It’s important to spend time with loved ones, but sometimes, people with dementia reach a stage where professional support is required. Memory care communities are spaces intended to meet the needs of people with dementia. Often staffed with experienced professionals and a schedule of fun and therapeutic activities, memory care can offer loved ones with dementia the robust care they need while providing respite for family caregivers.
With memory care, families can worry less about day-to-day tasks and focus on what truly matters: spending quality time with their loved one. To learn more about our memory care services in Greeley, Colorado, schedule a tour at High Plains Crossing.
