Discovering that a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s can be stressful, frightening, and overwhelming. It is distressing and disheartening seeing them struggling with their daily activities due to a decline in their cognitive and functional abilities.
Since there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, effective caregiving and support can help improve your loved one’s quality of life. Therefore, as a caregiver, you would want to try your best to meet the challenges associated with caregiving and ensure that you are giving them the best care possible.
How to care for your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease?
Just as Alzheimer’s progression varies from person to person, the caregiver experience can also vary from one person to another. There are, however, ways that might help you cope with challenges and make caregiving a more rewarding experience. Here are some strategies to effectively care for your loved ones at home and become a great caregiver to them.
Know about Alzheimer’s disease
The ongoing research is unveiling mysteries regarding Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with every passing day. Whether you are an experienced or a new caregiver, you must be well-informed and knowledgeable about the disease. Be sure to read new research since scientific advancements in memory, therapy, and self-care may provide insight.
If your loved one has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and you are new to caregiving, talk to a doctor and ask them if you have any questions regarding the disease and changes in your loved one’s memory, mood, or behavior. You can also contact non-profit organizations, such as Alzheimer’s Research Association, to get more information about the disease, treatment options, and caregiving tips and resources.
Some communities also offer classes and workshops to caregivers to teach problem-solving, management, and caregiving skills.
Be calm and offer reassurance
Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that may cause your loved one to exhibit unusual behaviors such as confusion, hallucination, and delusions. They may even constantly repeat some questions or actions. Such issues may be challenging to handle but remember, keeping calm is the key!
While responding to your loved one’s confusion, repetition, or hallucination, be gentle and talk in a supportive and reassuring manner. Avoid arguments or trying to convince and offer simple explanations to their questions.
Alzheimer’s may cause your loved one to forget relationships and people’s names, and they may not recognize objects or certain faces. That may hurt you but remember, it is not on purpose. So, do not take it personally. Instead, try to handle the situation calmly.
Encourage your loved one’s independence
Try to make your loved one feel independent since it makes them more confident. People with dementia can still carry out their basic tasks independently in the early and middle stages of the disease. Therefore, focus on their abilities and ensure as much freedom as possible.
You can invite them for kitchen help, request help with daily chores, opt for easy-to-wear clothes, encourage physical activity, and engage them in social activities. You can use reminders and modify the home environment to make it comfortable and safer for them.
Nowadays, assistive technology has introduced many innovations to help promote seniors’ autonomy. Devices such as automated reminders, clocks and calendars, automatic pill dispensers, locator devices, mobility aids, and sensory enhancement devices can help your loved ones carry out some of their daily tasks independently.
Plan activities to keep your loved one active
Keeping your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease active and engaged is one of the primary tasks of a caregiver. They might have given up the activities or hobbies they enjoyed in the past. In that case, try reintroducing those activities to them. However, you may want to consider making some changes to allow for their current abilities.
Look for activities that you can enjoy together. For instance, you can play games, go for a walk, enjoy music, arrange a photobook, or go for a walk together. If your loved one used to like art or reading, try engaging them in an art project or reading to them. Moreover, if there is an event, request them for help and make sure that they participate in making arrangements.
While planning for activities, it is crucial to keep in mind the disease stage, mood changes, time of the day, and physical problems the person might be facing.
Make mealtimes easier
Regular nutritional meals may become difficult for people with dementia. They may feel overwhelmed by too many food options, forget to eat, believe they have already eaten, or struggle using utensils. It is essential to address these issues to avoid malnutrition and dehydration problems. If the person refuses to eat, be patient and offer the food when they are calm.
Make your loved one concentrate on food by limiting noise or eliminating other distractions. Eating together can also make mealtimes enjoyable, and the person may look forward to the experience.
Minimizing eating and nutrition problems can also help cope with the mealtime challenges. For instance, you can prepare easy-to-eat foods and use vitamin supplements recommended by the doctor. If your loved one has a decreased appetite, prepare their favorite foods, increase their physical activity, or consider planning several small meals instead of three main meals.
Ensure home safety
Since Alzheimer’s disease or dementia increases the chances of injury, ensure your loved one’s safety by making the home safer and more comfortable. For instance, decluttering and installing grab bars or handrails in the areas where your patient can fall can help prevent such accidents.
Ensure fire safety by keeping matches and lighters out of their reach. Moreover, install locks on cabinets and drawers containing harmful items such as medicines, guns, alcohol, tools, and sharp objects.
You can also use gadgets to avoid any injury or mishap. For instance, water temperature sensors can help prevent scalds and burns that might occur while bathing. Similarly, fall sensors can help prevent falls.
Wrapping Up!
Witnessing your loved one struggling with daily activities is distressing. If you are caring for them at home, you may want to give them the best care possible, and some strategies can help you be a great caregiver!
Alzheimer’s Research Association aims to support the caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease by providing the latest news and information regarding Alzheimer’s disease and utilizing its research, donations, and grants to help people stay informed and to help them cope with their emotional and financial difficulties. We work to make the caregiving experience as rewarding as possible for the caregivers.
