Caring for a loved one with dementia can be one of the most challenging experiences. Whether you’re new to caregiving or seeking additional support for a family member, it’s important to know what options are available and how non-medical home care can make a significant difference.

This guide will walk you through how home care for dementia patients can support quality of life while providing family caregivers with additional help. At Evelyn Wells, we are dedicated to offering personalized non-medical home care services that promote independence, dignity, and comfort in the familiar surroundings of home.

Dementia is not a single disease but a general term used to describe a decline in memory, thinking, language, judgment, or other cognitive abilities severe enough to interfere with everyday life. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, but other types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.
As dementia progresses, individuals may have increasing difficulty with everyday tasks, communication, memory, judgment, and other aspects of daily life. The experience varies depending on the person and type of dementia.

While there is currently no cure for most progressive forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, treatment and appropriate support can help manage symptoms and everyday needs.
Non-medical home care services can provide valuable support by assisting with daily activities, companionship, familiar routines, and everyday safety while allowing the person to do as much as they comfortably and safely can for themselves.

One of the main roles of non-medical home care is providing assistance with everyday activities that may become more difficult as dementia progresses. These can include:

• Bathing and grooming: Providing respectful assistance with personal hygiene when needed.
• Dressing and undressing: Helping individuals select appropriate clothing and providing assistance with dressing while encouraging independence where possible.
• Eating and meal preparation: Preparing meals, supporting familiar mealtime routines, and providing appropriate assistance during meals.
• Toileting and incontinence care: Providing discreet assistance for individuals who need help using the restroom or managing incontinence.

The National Institute on Aging recommends balancing necessary assistance with allowing a person living with dementia to remain as independent as possible.

Changes associated with dementia can sometimes make it more difficult for a person to remain socially connected and engaged.
Companion care provides opportunities for conversation, familiar activities, and meaningful interaction. Caregivers can provide:

• Reassurance and companionship: Providing a calm, familiar presence and supportive interaction.
• Meaningful activities: Activities such as puzzles, listening to music, looking through photographs, walking, gardening, or other hobbies adapted to the person’s interests and abilities.
• Social interaction: Providing regular opportunities for conversation and connection.

Meaningful activities should focus on what the person enjoys and can comfortably do rather than on testing or correcting their memory. The Alzheimer’s Association recommends adapting activities to a person’s current abilities while continuing activities they have traditionally enjoyed.
For families who feel overwhelmed or exhausted from caregiving, having a trusted companion provide additional support can also offer valuable relief.