Practical Tips and Tricks When Caring For Someone with Dementia

Labels for dresser drawers: Naming what is in each drawer

Silicone Sport medical Alert Bracelet: With name, address, and emergency contact details

Purple Alzheimer’s seatbelt cover: In case the driver becomes incapacitated. Responders will know the passenger has Dementia

Memory basket: Fill with photos, fidgets, and old keepsakes

Photo board with name labels: Extremely helpful when language skills decrease and names are difficult to recall

Stove knob covers: To avoid burns

Games: Toss Across, ring toss, washer toss, golf putting green to keep loved one occupied

Blink Camera System: Options to mount on the wall or sit on surface make it easy to keep loved one safe

Puzzles and fidget toys: to keep your loved one occupied and help reduce anxiety

Tile stick-on buttons: Useful for wallet, coat, shoes, etc. when hiding begins

Child safety Strap locks for drawers and cupboards: Lock cleaners, medications, sharps

Child Safety door knob cover with dual locks: This particular style not only snaps over the knob, but also has a screw on the front piece making it too complicated to take off

Childproof Reinforcement locks: For outside doors, installed above eye level

Lavender bedtime baby bath: Calming for easier transition to bed

Noise cancelling blue tooth headphones: Create a relaxing and/or happy playlists

Bells on the door knob bedroom: Helped me to know if Peter woke up during the night

Electric razor and beard trimmer: Helpful when Peter could no longer shave himself

Fidget Pillow: Perfect when your loved one is less mobile, but still needs to be occupied

Weighted blanket: Helps reduce agitation and anxiety

Laundry basket filled with socks and shoes: Kept Peter busy for hours

Shower floor non-slip stickers: Helps curb slipping, contrasting colors are useful when vision starts to fail

3D bookshelf door decal: These door-size stickers deter your loved one from exiting the house or going into rooms you don’t want them to

Elastic waist pants, shorts, pajama bottoms: When zippers and buttons and dressing become too much

Slip-on shoes: When tying is forgotten

Lower temperature on hot water heater: Reduces risk of your loved one burning themselves

Remove drain stoppers from all sinks: as your loved one may leave the water running and it may cause a flooding issue

Motion sensor Dog and Cat: Peter found comfort in these and thought they were real

Lifelike Baby: Comforting to hold and rock and talk to when your loved one is anxious

Suction cup toddler bowls and plates: Perfect when self-feeding becomes difficult and plates and bowls slide around

Toilet hat Urine collector: In the event you need a urine sample

Bidet: Easier clean up when your loved one protests personal care

Baby wipe warmer: Warm wipes are less shocking when trying to clean your loved one

Incontinence guards, for inside pullups: Pull-ups usually not absorbent enough. Guards catch overflow, meaning less clothing and linen clean up

Waterproof mattress cover: Buy two so there is always one clean one available.

Chucks Waterproof Fabric sheet squares: Invaluable for both curbing linen changes and moving LO when they become bedridden

Christmas tree decorated with fidget toys: No need to worry about ornament breakage

Nosey cup: Edge is cut out for easier drinking when loved one can no longer sit up

Mouth sponges: When drinking and eating stop

Remove the toilet lid: Helps avoid messes on top of the toilet, reduces confusion

Go bag: Keep a bag of extras in the car including pants, shirt, wipes, pullups, extra meds, fidget toys, underwear, towel, and bottled water for cleanups