Alzheimer Disease: Coping with the Changes

When someone has been diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease there are many changes that are going to occur in the day to day experiences of the patient. 

Those things that they once did very easily are going to become difficult to do.  There are some things that you, as the caregiver, can do to make things easier:

•    Help your patient to do more difficult tasks when they are feeling their best.  This can include something as complex as preparing a meal or something as simple as taking a walk.
•    Give your patient plenty of time to finish a task without rushing them.
•    Give your patient as many breaks as they need so that they do things at their own pace.
•    Make arrangements for others to lend a hand.
•    Take your time when you’re communicating with an Alzheimer patient.
•    Speak slowly and repeat statements if you need to.  Write down words if you find that your patient responds better to written communication.
•    Find a quiet place to communicate with your patient rather than in a place where there are distractions.
•    Arrange for other family members to help you transport your patient from place to place so that you get a break now and then.
•    Contact the Alzheimer’s Society in the area where you live to find out what home care services are available.
•    Post a schedule for your patient of things that are done each day such as meal times, exercise times, medications, and bed time.
•    Help your patient to keep a notebook of important information such as dates, names, places, and other memories.
•    If your patient is still able to make phone calls on their own, post phone numbers in large print next to the phone.
•    Keep all medication clearly labeled and in a safe place away from your patient.
•    Mark off the days of the calendar so that you can help your patient to keep track of time.
•    Label photographs for your patient of people, places, and things that hold a special meaning to them.
•    Label simple household items for easy recognition, such as the contents of cupboards and drawers.
•    Organize drawers and closets for your patient so that it is easy for them to find things.
•    If your patient is still quite active, post labels which have reminders to lock the doors and turn off appliances.
•    Arrange for someone to lend a helping hand when it comes to some of the basic household chores such as buying groceries.