Caring for a Relative with Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a sad, scary and debilitating disease. My Grandmother was diagnosed with it when I was in high school and I lost her several years later. It can take the person you know and turn them into a completely different person who can be entirely dependent on their family. This means that it can now be difficult to care for them, but there are many resources out there to help you learn and cope with such a disease in the best possible manner.

Plan Activities. This will help the person keep their dignity and confidence levels. When planning activities make sure that it is an activity that is of interest to the person, enjoyable, and in a supportive environment. The activity doesn't have to be a large one, but can be simple, which will help you in the process as well. By planning your day out with activities there will be less stress on what to do during the day.

Examples: Crossword Puzzle, Take a Walk, Play a Game of Cards, or Watch a Movie

Communication. As the disease progresses communication can become much more difficult. The patient may have trouble communicating their thoughts and have trouble understanding what is being said to them. Each person is different, but here are some ideas to help you as the communication begins to breakdown.

-Keep eye contact, which shows you care about what they are saying
-Don't interrupt, criticize, correct, or argue. Let them say what they have to say
-Try guessing the correct word if they are having problems finding it
-Use short and simple words, and talk slowly
-Be patient as you wait for response. They may need time to gather their thoughts
-Call the person by name as it helps orient them and attract their attention

Dressing and Grooming. If the person feels good about how they look they will better about themselves overall.

-Keep the choices simple and provide direction by laying out the clothing in the order they should be put on
-Keep the closet free of excess clothing
-Choose comfortable and simple clothing such as button up tops and Velcro shoes
-Provide compliment not criticism if the clothing is mismatched
-Be patient
-Maintain a routine
-Demonstrate how to do a motion (eg.) Brushing your hair

Eating.Mealtime can become difficult as the disease progresses as the person may lose interest in food or forget to eat. However, it is your job to keep them eating a nutritious diet.

-Set a regular and routine time to eat
-Turn off all distractions and keep it quiet
-Check the temperature of the food to ensure it isn't too hot or cold as they may forget to do this
-Serve 1-2 foods at a time
-Give them plenty of time to eat and do not rush them
-Eat together so it is an event that they look forward to
-To encourage independence serve finger foods, demonstrate for them, don't worry about neatness.

Other Helpful Hints:

-Keep a diary of your loved ones symptoms as they change or progress. This will help the doctor understand the progression of the disease.
-Identify any music that's enjoyable as this can be calming to the person
-Some people react well with animals, while others do not. If this is an option for you discuss it with the doctor.

References:

http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_caring_for_alzheimers.asp