Written By Amber Bowman
If your loved one was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s you may be wondering what your next steps are. With Dementia and Alzheimer’s come new challenges and caregiving involves adaptability and patience as the disease progresses. To have a successful and safe home-based care experience, below are four tips that can help.
Create a safe environment
With cognitive function impaired make sure your loved one’s home has the necessary precautions in place. As the disease progresses you will discover different ways in which to modify your loved one’s home so they can manage safely.
Some examples include:
- Fall-proof around the house and especially in the bathrooms
- Install locks for anything dangerous such as alcohol, sharp objects, cleaning products
- Label daily medications and keep them in a medication box
- Remove locks from bathroom and bedroom doors to prevent getting locked in
- Kitchen precautions (automatic shut off on appliances)
Upkeep brain health
Staying mentally and physically active are the best ways to keep the mind sharp in the beginning of dementia and Alzheimers. Activities that engage the mind could be things like crossword puzzles, sing or play music, and especially social interaction. Encourage your loved one to make lists and memory cues to help them keep up with daily tasks. Yardwork, dancing and walking are also great activities that can be done at home. Healthy eating and sleep is essential in up keeping brain health and not mixing up days and nights. Alzheimer’s symptoms can worsen if your loved one is anxious or depressed. All the above should help keep the mood happy and spirits high.
Patience and Communication
When everyday tasks like putting on clothes or preparing meals becomes difficult it can be frustrating for your loved one. It’s helpful to provide choices, for example laying out a couple of outfits or asking if they would like a hot or iced tea. Choices rather than open-ended questions will be less frustrating. Set aside extra time for tasks for days with an appointment or outing. Try to be as flexible as possible within the routine as the client’s abilities and needs can change from day to day.
To avoid misunderstandings and frustrations with your loved one it’s a good idea to learn about ways to communicate. Try to observe and Interpret body language and nonverbal gestures. Give enough time for them to get their thoughts together and answer. Ask questions slowly and with respect. It is a learning process and not being able to express what you want to say can be frustrating on both sides! Having patience and a calm energy can be the hardest but most beneficial way to keep successful communication.
Hire respite care or an in-home caregiver
Accept help to lighten the struggles of this disease. It should not be done alone! It can wear on everyone involved unless you have a community for support. Caregivers are trained in specialized dementia and Alzheimer’s care. It’s important to tell the people helping you all you can about the memories of your loved one. It will allow for a greater bond to form if they are aware of their past accomplishments and favorite memories. Caregivers have lots of patience and know best how to navigate the changing aspects of day to day life.
The Alzheimer’s Association is a great online resource if you are looking for more information. It is important to learn about this disease and its different stages so you can plan for the future and get the support you and your loved one need. If you are ready for support give Synergy a call today to learn about our specialized Dementia and Alzheimer’s care.
