Improving Mental Health of our loved ones with dementia or chronic illness

10 October is World Mental Health Day

The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to gather support of mental health issues.

As a caregiver, I take steps to improve the mental health of my loved one living with dementia and other chronic illness.

Mental health is like any other chronic disease that needs treatment whether pharmacological or non pharmacological.

Besides administering medications prescribed by my mother’s physician, these are the steps that I take to improve mental health.

1. Address her anxiety and irrational fears.

2. Allow her to share her day. Be patient. Make time to listen to her. That she feels valued as a person.

3. Understand the Frustration that she no longer could do the things she used to do.

4. Show her the things she can do. Affirm her

5. Offer choices to her. Noodles or rice. Go to daycare on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday or Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. That she has some control over certain decisions in her life.

6. Give her a purpose. A role to play in the family, part of a community. Allow her to be involved in preparing vegetables, garlic, onions for our dinner.

7. Be kind, empathise and speak gently.

There are so much we can do to improve. However, we can only do all these if we are well rested, administered sufficient self care. Let us be thriving caregivers so that our loved ones will thrive too.