If you are looking out for a care home for your elderly parent who has dementia, then you must take extra precautions. Given that dementia is a cognitive disease and your parent must be dealing with impaired reasoning and memory, it becomes necessary for you to ensure that they are placed in the best environment. Let's take for example, something as simple as fire exit signs. While for you and me, it is not the first priority while searching for a care home, but if you are looking after your parents, then appropriate exit signs become crucial. Elderly people with dementia need special care given their challenging behaviour. Therefore, you need to keep the following tips in mind. Care Settings at Home A care home for dementia patients must be cheerful, given they are prone to change in moods frequently. Another thing to keep in mind is the safety aspects. Your parent may not remember the route to the exit or may take the wrong turn and enter a hazardous room like the electricity zone. Therefore, look out for care homes that have simple navigation signs which are easy to understand. Easy Fire Exit Signs If there is a fire alarm in the care home, the most first thing you would want is the safety of your parent. Now, if the fire exit signs are difficult to understand, in terms of colour and texture and size, then for a dementia patient, it is a massive struggle. It is important that the fire exit signs are in bold colours such as red or black or bright yellow. Not only that, the navigation signs must be in textures that are embossed or carved so even if they can't understand the signs, they can feel it by placing their hands on the signs and exit the buildings safely. Another important factor to keep in mind is to know if the care home has drills. If there are frequent fire drills or emergency drills, your parent will become familiar with the fire exit signs .Since dementia patients can read signs more conveniently if they are in large or big sizes. In addition, during emergencies, they can read the signs quickly and rush to safety. Dementia Patient is the King Your parents need all the help and understanding as they will be shifting into a new and unfamiliar environment, therefore shortlist only care homes that have the facilities as mentioned above. However, ensure that your parents are comfortable with the place and people before you select the care home.One way to ensure this is to allow your parent to interact with the nurses and helpers there. Also, take your parent for a tour of the place, so that they slowly understand that this will be their new home. Never forget that at the end of the day, your parent has to like the care home. Thankfully, your parents trust your decisions when it comes to their safety and comfort.
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