Caring for a loved one who’s sick with Alzheimer’s can entail a mountain of challenges. It’s emotionally devastating enough to see the effects of the disease take hold, but the physical demands of the task can sap you of your energies as well. Here are some tips to help you provide your loved one with the best care possible:
Don’t rush
This decision is important. You’re hiring someone to take care of a beloved family member so you’ll need to make sure you’re hiring the right person. If your loved one also has dementia, a likely effect of the Alzheimer’s, then look for an Alzheimer’s and dementia care specialist to help you through.
Reduce the daily frustrations
You can do this a number of ways. Start by establishing a schedule. Routine helps make people with Alzheimer’s keep a structure to their lives.
Keep communication simple
HelpGuide says it’s better to talk with simple sentences. Long, convoluted paragraphs aren’t going to be as easily understood by your people with Alzheimer’s, so stick to simple sentences.
Involve them
Alzheimer’s patients can usually perform a number of small tasks. Let your loved one do the same. Some are equipped enough to handle small tasks or responsibilities. Let them participate as much as they can, for as long as they can.
Reduce distractions
It’s easier for Alzheimer’s patients to focus when there aren’t too many distractions around. So try to keep them focused on the situations at hand, especially during meals and conversation.
Give them choices
Limit those choices to two, but give them choices. That way, you’re allowing them to have agency and make their decisions, no matter how minor those decisions might be.
So if your loved one is still in the early stages of the disease, then these should give you a glimpse of what the future will look like and what you’ll need to do in order to help out.
