Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes the slow loss of memory and mental function, and it can also lead to an array of physical problems, including difficulty walking, speaking, and swallowing. If you’ve become a caregiver for an aging loved one with Alzheimer’s, you know caregiving is a demanding job, both physically and emotionally. While some days will inevitably be better than others, here are a few Alzheimer’s care tips that can make caregiving a little easier.
Stick with the Routine
Seniors with Alzheimer’s benefit from stable and consistent routines. Make sure activities like getting dressed, eating, going to the doctor, and getting ready for bed take place around the same time each day. This can help your loved one better understand what’s going to happen and reduce feelings of anxiety or stress. If you have an outside caregiver providing assistance, do your best to ensure it’s the same caregiver each time so your loved one can build a trusting relationship with the caregiver. Keeping everything as stable as possible may decrease your loved one’s stress and lead to more cooperation with the care.
One of the first things to consider is whether and when to hire a professional caregiver for your loved one. Families looking for top-rated elderly home care providers can reach out to Home Care Assistance. From respite care to specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care, there are many ways we can make life easier for seniors and their loved ones.
Keep Conversations Simple
Aim to keep conversations with your loved one simple, and avoid long, complicated sentences he or she may not be able to understand. Short but gentle redirects such as “stand tall” or “step up” may be easier for your loved one to follow and make daily activities like transfers and toileting simpler and safer. It’s also important to respond compassionately when something appears to be wrong. This can pinpoint needs such as hunger, which can in turn prevent behavioral problems.
Be Flexible & Adjust
No matter what stage of Alzheimer’s your loved one is in, there will be times when he or she is lucid and able to remember things and other times when he or she seems to have forgotten nearly everything. Take advantage of the times when your loved one is lucid, and don’t worry about straying from your schedule. Share memories of the past, and spend quality time with your loved one. Any communication your parent is capable of can strengthen and maintain your connection for as long as possible.
A trained Alzheimer’s caregiver can be a wonderful source of information and support for family caregivers. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care. Opelika families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
Get the Support You Need
As the disease advances, your loved one will likely require 24-hour monitoring and around-the-clock care to ensure safety. Before the stress of caregiving sets in, make sure you have the proper support services in place. Support can come from relatives, friends, members of your church, or professional caregivers who can assist you in making sure your loved one is safe, happy, and comfortable and that you get the rest and time off you need.
Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors to manage without assistance, and it can be just as challenging for families who don’t have experience in providing Alzheimer’s care. Opelika Home Care Assistance provides Alzheimer’s care seniors and their families can depend on. Our proprietary Cognitive Therapeutics Method was designed to help seniors with Alzheimer’s and other memory-related conditions live happier and healthier lives. To learn about our revolutionary in-home care plans, call us at (334) 744-7100 today.