Here’s How To Help & Take Care Of A Loved One With Alzheimer’s
If you have your loved one diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s, you know how challenging the journey can be. It’s difficult to watch your parents go through this. Therefore, some individuals try to utilize home health aide guide services or even start taking care of things at home themselves.
If you are someone taking charge of your loved one in your own hands, you might find that every day is a challenge. You might find the abilities and behavior of your loved ones changing.
Simple chores like eating or bathing, which are all second nature to humans, start becoming a struggle to accomplish.
Almost every caregiver has sailed through trials and tribulations. And chances are, so will you. Yes, there may be failures in the beginning because every patient reacts differently to Alzheimer’s, but you should not lose hope.
This guide will encourage you to devise a layout if you find yourself stressed out or unable to communicate with your loved one, which can be painful.
Let us find out how.
Set A Routine – crucial for an Alzheimer’s patient
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Once you start taking care of the elderly, you will notice that they have certain patterns, and you have to be attentive enough to catch on to that.
For example, some people are active during the mornings. If your loved one is less non-cooperative in the mornings and appears jolly, adjust your schedule and time to take advantage of those times.
Learn to locate trends in their behavior and see if you can change their habits to make things go more seamlessly. Only when you do this will you find that things can be better strategized and incorporated to make things better for your loved ones.
Provide Their Basic Needs And Some Helpful Aging Essentials
Your number one goal to help your senior age in place is to put their health and wellness in top priority. Because they’re incapable of taking care of themselves and have additional needs, it’s your responsibility to provide these.
If you’re physically incapable of watching over your senior daily, you can seek home care services and hire licensed professionals to come to your home and guide your senior through recovery. Medicare or some private health insurance policies cover the expenses for these medical care services, so don’t forget to check with your insurer before finding a care provider.
When hiring a caregiver for your elderly, get in touch with a reputable agency to ensure high-quality, skilled service providers. Be specific with the daily and occasional tasks your senior will need help with, from personal care duties to social activities, so that the company can choose their best professionals for these specialties.
Because your senior is living independently with a caregiver’s assistance, you’ll have to compensate for the lack of facilities and amenities that are otherwise present in nursing homes and assisted living centers. Here are some products, amenities, and modifications that would significantly make your senior’s daily life easier and more convenient:
- Senior mobility aids would facilitate movement from one spot to another.
- Senior-friendly stairs with handrails and ramps
- Widened home doorways
- Assistive seating
- Smart home devices, like medication reminders, automated lighting, and more
- Medical alert systems connected to your phone
- Safety alarm systems
- Cord-free spaces
- Slip-resistant, resilient flooring
Communicate Well to anyone suffering from Alzheimer’s
We for sure don’t come into this world understanding the A-Z of how to speak with someone who has memory loss; we have no choice but to educate ourselves. We can develop our skills which can help us take care of a loved one more effortlessly. This will also enhance the quality of your connection with your dear ones.
Create A Friendly Environment for an Alzheimer’s patient
Your body’s behavior and tone express your thoughts and emotions more effectively than your speech. Therefore, make a good impression by communicating with your dear ones warmly and respectfully.
Activate the Alzheimer’s patient’s interest
Reducing noise and distractions by turning off the television will help. So will closing the curtains and doors to block noises or moving to a calmer location. Always grasp their attention before speaking by addressing her by name. This is really important for an Alzheimer’s patient.
Make Your Point Clear when communicating to someone with Alzheimer’s
Make your sentences and words as basic as possible. Think basic junior-level school sentences. Slowly, clearly, with a comforting tone, speak with a low tone and decrease the pitch of your voice. If she does not comprehend the right away, restate your message.
A quick tip would always be to state names and place them instead of usual pronouns, as even the slightest changes can trigger them.
Pose Easy-to-answer Questions to those under your care for Alzheimer’s
Ask single or closed-ended questions if necessary. Yes/no questions are the most effective. Avoid providing too many options. “Will you prefer a blue tie or a red tie?” for example. You can do it better by showing them the possibilities—visual signals can assist in clarifying your inquiry and help them respond better.
Divert Attention And Deflect is important for Alzheimers’ patients
Diverting the attention of patients works like a charm in the case of Alzheimer’s. For instance, you might ask for his help or suggest taking a walk. Try to connect on an emotional level as that can get through to them. “I know you are not feeling good,” “I am sorry that you feel frustrated,” “maybe we can go grab a bite to eat” are some of the phrases of compassion you can use.
Lastly, Reminiscing The Old Times is important for taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s
Unfortunately, people with memory loss have no recollection of what happened even 50 minutes ago. However, they might vividly recall events from 55 years ago. Reminding the elderly of their good ol’ days can be a relaxing and reassuring experience. When you don’t pose questions that rely on short-term memory, it allows the patient to open up and reminisce about their old times.
Final Word on taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s
While it can be taxing, taking care of an older adult with special needs is a duty we all should do with our hearts. We hope this guide helps you in taking care of the elderly of your family in the best way possible. Happy caring!
