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There are many challenges that you will face when you care for a loved one with dementia. It is one of the toughest things you can do. As the disease progresses, your loved one will go through changes, some of which are rather unpleasant. They will not remember things as before, and might develop feelings like paranoia, confusion and anxiety. Being there with them, supporting them during these trying times is perhaps the most useful thing you can do. That, and perhaps arranging live-in care service for them. 

Live-in allows old people, as well as those suffering from conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, to get the help they require at their own home. There is an experienced live-in care professional, who will attend to their needs. As you opt for this kind of service, you want to make sure the care provider is the right one for you and your loved one with dementia. And there are a few tips that can help you in that regard: 

• Experience is essential – getting a company because they offer live-in care service is one thing; getting a company with experienced caregivers, who know how to look after people with dementia is something completely different. Any caregiver who has worked with seniors with dementia knows how to approach the task and the specifics of it. They are aware that seniors with such conditions require special attention and care. They will do everything they can to reduce the potential of angry outbursts, episodes of confusion and discomfort for the person. They must also be on the constant lookout for distressing symptoms and stressors in the environment, which can trigger anger and confusion. Any caregiver, who has experience with such matters, will do a much better job of looking after a person with dementia than a caregiver who hasn’t done any of it. Getting an agency with such personnel is very important. 
  
  
• They need to be very patient and empathetic – people that have dementia do things differently, in many cases. They slow down, and process information in a more difficult manner. The caregiver needs to be able to get on the same level and show patience and understanding. They must know the unique situation the senior is in, due to their condition. As a caregiver, it is their duty to preserve the other’s dignity to the highest possible degree, all the while managing to serve them well. To do this, it takes understanding and compassion. 
  
  
• The caregiver needs to be flexible – dementia has no cure. There are only certain treatments that manage the symptoms. Because of this, the needs of a senior with dementia are going to change rapidly. At first, they may be able to address takes like dressing on their own, but at a later stage, they may not be able to. Because of it, a caregiver must be able to show flexibility and address the new needs as they arise. 
  
  
• They must be reliable – a caregiver must be someone, who is reliable on the job. They must always be alert if the person with dementia shows signs of an outburst or confusion. They must know how to diffuse the situation and do what is best for the current situation. They must not only possess the skills needed to look after a person with dementia but to be able to tap into those skills at a whim. 
  
  

These are the essential aspects of a live-in dementia caregiver. A person needs to possess all of them, for them to be eligible for the job. 

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