Planning ahead - End of life care and support - Providing support

• Ensure there is a consistent routine for your family members, including consistency of the person providing care
• As a family partner in care, use your powers of observation – you know your family member best. Relay your observations with the person providing care for your family member.
• Touch is an important communication tool. Continue to express your care and concern toward your family member through touch – holding hands, lightly stroking the arm, etc.
• Simply being present is important. This can be difficult for some family members but just being there can communicate so much to the person with dementia.
• Be conscious to expressions of pain and discomfort (e.g., noisy breathing, groans, facial expressions, body language, pacing or being excessively fidgety, change in habits, exhibiting unwanted behaviours)
• Use body language and hand gestures to demonstrate instructions
• Do not forget that although your family member with dementia may no longer be able to communicate in the same way, they are still a person worthy of respect and dignity – allow your family member opportunities for involvement
• If you are the Power of Attorney for Personal Care, ensure that medical staff are aware of your family member's wishes
• Continue to engage with your family member. It is important to go where your family member is at. For example, if they are at a time when they were much younger, go there with your family member by asking them about their experiences and relationships.
• Sing a song or play music that your family member enjoyed in the past, read a favourite poem or story, or share favourite photos

Source: The information above was compiled with permission from:

Alzheimer Society of Peel (n.d.). Your guidelines to "A journey through care". Mississauga, Ontario, Canada: Author.

McCann-Beranger, J. (2004). A caregiver's guide for Alzheimer and related diseases. Charlottetown, PE: Acorn Press.