Supporting Your Loved One in Mid-Stage Dementia

Caring for a loved one in the middle stages of dementia can be both emotionally and physically demanding. During this phase, memory loss, confusion, and behavioral changes become more noticeable, and your loved one will likely need increasing help with daily activities such as dressing, bathing, and managing routines.

It’s important to remember, however, that challenging behaviors, like irritability, suspicion, or withdrawal, are symptoms of the disease, not intentional actions. Still, it can be overwhelming to families who become frustrated, not knowing what to expect and how to deal with it. 

The Alzheimer’s Association has published information for caregivers to aid in better understanding and supporting a loved one during the middle stages of their dementia journey. We’ve summarized them below:

Cognition:

• Greater confusion about time, place, and current events.
• Forgetting personal details such as home address, phone number, or parts of personal history.
• Difficulty paying bills and managing finances.

Memory:

• Increased difficulty recalling recent events.
• Trouble recognizing friends and family members.

Behavior:

• Heightened frustration and mood swings.
• Suspicion or paranoia.
• Possible agitation or aggression.

Activities of daily living (ADLs):

• Requiring help with dressing, bathing, grooming, and other routine tasks.
• Reduced ability to manage household responsibilities independently.

Safety:

• Leaving the stove burner turned on or faucet running.
• Wandering out from the house and becoming lost.
• Forgetting to dispose of expired milk and other perishable food items.

Communication:

• Trouble finding the right words and forming sentences.
• Difficulty expressing thoughts clearly.
• Challenges following or participating in conversations.

What do family caregivers need to do to adjust to these changes? Here are some tips:

Increase hands-on support:

• Provide more assistance with everyday household activities, such as cleaning, laundry and grocery shopping.
• Help them with dressing, bathing, and personal hygiene to keep them clean and comfortable.

Adjust communication styles:

• Speak slowly and clearly. Avoid talking loudly.
• Resist filling in word gaps. Give them time to complete a sentence.
• Provide these tips to friends and family in advance of visits.

Optimize safety inside and outside their home:

• Install locks that are out of immediate reach. Consider an alarm system.
• Use monitoring systems that enable you to check in on their safety.
• Create information cards with their name, your name, and your phone number that can be kept their wallet or pocket.

Support routine and structure:

• Maintain a consistent daily schedule. Routine is very important to individuals with dementia. It will help minimize stress and confusion.
• Keep consistency with activities, especially visits and outings. Always prepare them in advance of special events or the need to travel.

Adjust to behavioral changes:

• Work with a licensed professional to better understand the emotional aspects of dementia.
• Develop tactics to help reduce their agitation and stress.
• Be mindful of situations and environments that trigger anxiety.
• Seek professional guidance from a physician with expertise in dementia.

As your loved one begins to show increasing signs of impairment, you will want to adjust your own actions and behavior to provide increasing levels of support as outlined above.

During these middle stages of dementia, it is important to understand that the damage caused to a loved one’s brain will cause them to become easily frustrated. That means that a normally gentle person may lash out and say hurtful things, or a once highly independent person may resist help and become agitated. These behaviors can feel personal, but in reality, they are symptoms of neurological changes beyond their control.

Reminding yourself that it is the disease speaking, not the person you know and love, can protect your relationship and your own emotional well-being. Witnessing their changes through that lens will enable you to meet them with compassion and maintain connection even as abilities decline.

The middle stages of dementia can last for several years. Over time, care needs typically progress from part-time assistance to full-time supervision and support. That is when a loved one’s needs may be better met in an environment that specializes in memory care.

Please feel free to reach out to any of our Anthem Memory Care communities. We will be happy to answer your questions and help you and your loved one navigate this challenging journey by providing insights, tips, resources and emotional support. You are not alone!