Caring for a senior loved one with Alzheimer’s can be a great way to bond, but the role can also be frustrating and require a lot of patience. Your daily tasks will change as the disease progresses and your loved one’s needs change. Below are tips that can help you treat your loved one and reduce some of the symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s.
Don’t Rush
Alzheimer’s can negatively affect mobility and cognitive health, but you should remain patient. Instead of getting frustrated, encourage your loved one to take his or her time. Don’t rush your parent at any point, whether you’re explaining instructions or he or she is completing daily tasks. If your loved one feels rushed, he or she could respond negatively. However, if your loved one can complete tasks at a comfortable pace, he or she might be more motivated and less combative.
One important thing to consider is whether to hire a professional caregiver for your loved one. Families looking for top-rated homecare 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.
Limit Napping
It’s typical for adults with Alzheimer’s to confuse daytime hours with nighttime, which leads to poor sleeping habits. You can treat sleeping problems by limiting the number of naps your loved one takes during the day or avoiding naps altogether. If your loved one does take naps, make sure he or she only sleeps for 30 minutes or less. Prolonged naps could cause your loved one to get days and nights reversed.
Use Effective Communication
Keeping up with conversations may be more of a challenge for older adults with Alzheimer’s, especially as the disease progresses. Use effective communication strategies such as speaking clearly, asking one question at a time, and avoiding multistep instructions.
Don’t move on with the conversation until your loved one is ready. You may need to repeat your words or sentences until your loved one understands. Effective communication could prevent confusion and frustration.
Professional caregivers with specialized experience in Alzheimer’s care can be a wonderful source of support for older adults with the disease. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of elderly home care Anchorage, AK, families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Create a Safe Environment
Alzheimer’s can impact problem-solving skills and impair judgment, which increases the risk of accidents and injuries. However, your loved one can continue to flourish in a safe and secure environment. Remove items that increase the risk of falls, such as cords, rugs, and clutter near steps and entranceways to various rooms. Monitor the temperature throughout the home to ensure your loved one isn’t too cold or too warm. Install grab bars in the bathroom, lock all cabinets and doors, and make sure there’s adequate lighting in every room.
Promote Independence
It’s okay to assist with daily tasks, but your loved one should do as much as possible with the least amount of help. Keeping your loved one involved in daily activities can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s and boost his or her self-esteem. You may need to customize the activities and tasks based on your loved one’s cognitive health and physical abilities.
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. Anchorage 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.
Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today at (907) 770-0907 to learn about the high quality of our at-home Alzheimer’s care services.