Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease

Taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease can be emotionally taxing, especially as the disease progresses. It’s hard to see someone you care about change in so many ways. And it can be physically exhausting, as well, if you are the primary caregiver. It's important to try to nurture and fortify yourself while doing the important wok of caregiving. Here are six tips to help you care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.

Educate yourself

Hearing that a loved one has Alzheimer’s can be devastating. To better cope with the diagnosis, it’s important you understand the disease and disease process. Educate yourself: Research Alzheimer’s online, talk to your loved one’s healthcare provider (HCP), and reach out to organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association for help and support.

Keep your home safe 

When caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, you need to take certain precautions at home to keep them safe. Here are some suggestions to follow, depending on the stage of their condition:

• Secure all doors with locks so that they can’t wander outside and get lost.
• Put child-proof latches on cabinets and doors.
• Properly store and label medications and keep them out of reach until they are needed.
• To prevent trips and falls, remove all clutter on the floors, secure rugs, and keep your home well-lit.

Communicate with kindness

Remember, as the disease progresses, your loved one may lose their train of thought, struggle with words to describe what they are thinking, and repeat questions over and over. While this can be aggravating to people around them, know that it is just as frustrating to the person with Alzheimer's. Try to be patient with your loved one.

Offer reassurance. It’s easy to get frustrated when you have trouble communicating. But this can make things worse. Tell your loved one that it’s okay and keep working through the conversation to better understand what they are trying to say.

Don’t criticize or debate. Instead of questioning their message, listen and try your best to follow their meaning. You may be able to guess words or phrases they are having a hard time remembering and help them complete their thought.

Try to maintain a quiet environment. Distracting noises can lead to even more confusion. Be sure the area is free of loud music or television noise.

Plan for challenges

As your loved one’s Alzheimer’s disease progresses, you may be forced to handle certain uncomfortable or frightening situations.

Wandering: The forgetfulness that comes with Alzheimer's may lead your loved one to become confused about their location. Make sure your loved one wears an identification bracelet at all times, so that if they wander away, they can be identified and you can be contacted. If possible, install an alarm system on your doors so you can hear when they open. Lastly, keep a recent photo of your loved with you, in case they stray and you need help finding them.

Delusions and hallucinations: Delusions and hallucinations may occur in people with Alzheimer’s. During such a spell, comfort them, turn off any disturbances such as music or television, and take a walk to distract them from the episode.

Incontinence: People with Alzheimer’s may have difficulty getting to the bathroom in time—and going successfully once they get there. To prevent bathroom accidents, dress your loved one in easy-to-remove clothing, watch their body language to predict when they might need to go, and create a regular bathroom-break schedule.

Make outings successful

When caring for someone with Alzheimer's, there will be plenty of visits to the HCP. You'll also need to adjust the way you perform routine errands, like trips to the grocery store. Plan outings during their best time of day (most often it will be the morning). Recruit another person to come with you to help, if you can.

Take care of yourself

Probably the most important thing you can do to help your loved one with Alzheimer’s is to take care of yourself. You won’t be helpful if you get run down, sick, or emotionally drained. Don’t neglect your own health needs. See your own HCP for regular checkups, eat a healthy diet, and make sure you get regular exercise.

Be sure to carve time out each week to do something you enjoy, such as visiting with friends. And accept help when offered. If you’re having trouble coping, seek support from an HCP or mental health professional.