As those who suffer from dementia experience changes in their physical and emotional capabilities, feelings of depression, anger and frustration often set in.  Dementia can be a frustrating condition for the patient to deal with and can be equally distressing and difficult to handle for their loved ones, who are often the people directly involved in their day to day care.  In order to help alleviate some of the frustration associated with the progression of dementia there are a number of issues that experts in the field suggest should be addressed.

A patient’s physical living environment can be one source of increased frustration. If the living environment is particularly cluttered or disorganized, it can add to a dementia patient’s distress, as they struggle to find a certain item. No longer being physically capable of performing certain common household tasks such as opening a can of beans or making a cup of coffee may seem like trivial problems compared to some of the other issues that a patient may be facing but they can be extremely frustrating for that individual nevertheless.

Creating an environment that is tidy and laid out in a constant and familiar manner can help. For those in the earlier stages of dementia there are a number of home health aids and gadgets available that can help them complete some of those daily tasks as well, which allows them a certain sense of still being able to have some control over their lives.

As dementia progresses a person may lose the ability to communicate their needs effectively, although they still understand what it is that they are trying to convey to other people, which is of course a huge source of frustration both for patient and caregiver. Hard as it may sometimes be medical professionals advise that caregivers demonstrate patience and understanding and consider trying to establish new ways to communicate with the patient that can help them make themselves more easily understood.

Maintaining a daily routine can be very comforting for individuals with dementia, as can be finding ways to still be able to express themselves as an individual. Although a patient and their family will often decide that remaining in a home environment for as long as possible is the best course of action participation in day programs at a local hospital or care facility can be very beneficial for some.