Are you expecting relatives with dementia over the holiday? You will need to prepare your home's guest room for older visitors to make their holiday more pleasant and easier. If you are hosting relatives with dementia for holiday get-togethers, you will need to make a few modifications to make your guest room more comfortable and welcoming.
Here are some helpful tips to help you make the guest room in your house a more senior-friendly space and ensure everything runs smoothly over the holidays:
1. Make Sure Your Home's Guest Room Is Easy to Navigate
Dementia can make it difficult for people to find their way around unfamiliar spaces. Remove any clutter or obstacles on the room's entryways and pathways that could be confusing or trip hazards. To make the space simple to navigate, consider arranging furniture to create clear pathways and using bright colors to mark doors and other key areas in the room.
2. Make Sure the Room Is Comfortable and Familiar
Keeping family photos and cherished possessions throughout the guest room will make relatives with dementia feel more secure in your guest house. Additionally, bringing some of your relative's favorite items, for instance, a familiar blanket can help your relative feel more at home. Familiar objects help lessen anxiety and disorientation in people with dementia, making your relative feel more at home.
3. Make Sure Your Guest Room Is Well-Lit and Easy to See
Good lighting will help reduce the risk of falls when hosting a senior loved one in your guest room. When hosting a senior with dementia in your guest room, replace any existing soft light bulbs with brighter or higher-wattage ones. It is essential to allow plenty of natural light into the room, add motion-sensor lights to the bathrooms and install a night light near the bed to ensure a senior can see where they're going if they wake up in the middle of the night.
4. Remove Any Potentially Dangerous Items from Your Guest Room
Consider the safety of relatives with dementia by removing any potentially dangerous items from the room. Remove all sharp objects and medications from the room. Another option is to modify the bathrooms by adding grab bars, a walk-in shower, or a bath seat.
5. Provide Easy Access to Necessities
Ensure your guest room has easy access to necessities like restroom necessities, drinks, and necessary medications. Additionally, you could use dementia-friendly household products such as clocks with sizable LCD displays or even a room phone with huge buttons.
Confusion-causing situations that could arise when hosting relatives who have dementia and how to prepare for them:
- Seniors with dementia may require additional assistance with activities such as eating, bathing, and dressing. Be prepared to offer plenty of support and assistance, and let them know you are there to help if they need it.
- Seniors with dementia may exhibit unpredictable behavior; instead of getting irritated, be gentle and understanding. Make their stay more pleasant and comfortable by being supportive.
- Seniors with dementia find it frustrating and isolating when unsure of what to do next. Try to keep them on a routine, such as taking a shower, getting dressed, and eating at the same time every day.
- Seniors with dementia find it difficult to make decisions when faced with too many options. Make it easier for relatives with dementia to get ready by not keeping all shoes, clothing, and cosmetics in the guest's wardrobe. Instead, lay out the clothes in the order you want your senior relative to put them on.
Making changes and setting up your guest room for an elderly relative with dementia can be a hassle. If you need further guidance on how to prep your guest room to host a senior relative with Dementia, Senior Helpers Fairfield can help. We offer in-home care services to clients living in or around Wayne, Paterson, Butler, Sussex, Passaic County, and Ringwood. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our services.