Home Care in Irvine, CA
Alzheimer’s is a type of neurodegenerative dementia that affects an estimated 5.5 million Americans. Living and caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be very challenging. Alzheimer’s patients are set on a journey of declining cognitive ability which makes coping with them difficult. If you are not prepared, providing home care for your loved one with Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming to say the least. One thing is for sure, every passing day will make the disease worse and all you can really do is to deal with the problems in a prepared and organized manner. As a caregiver, you ought to be aware that the individual’s emotions are going to heighten with the progression of the disease. Additionally, as a caregiver you will find yourself exhausted with increased work and financial demands.
However, you can take this time to reinforce your relationship with the loved one by showing them companionship and care. You can even help the patient develop their relationship and problem solving skills.
Some Simple Adjustments You Can Make for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s
People with Alzheimer’s will find simple tasks increasingly frustrating with the progression of their condition. Setting a schedule for them is very useful because Alzheimer’s patients can then learn to follow a particular routine which makes incorporating important regular tasks like bathing or medical check-ups easy to follow. However, it is best to always leave some room for spontaneous activities that they would want to do. As a caregiver, you need to develop patience because activities which didn’t take much time before are going to take longer now. Ushering the individual to hurry in such instances can lead to agitation so it’s best to allot them more time for the particular task in their schedule.
It is also advisable to minimize distractions in the house to keep the person focused on their schedule. This means keep the television off during mealtime for productive conversation with them. Furthermore, it is healthy to involve the person into activities they can do on their own as much as possible such as making their bed or setting the table. This will make them feel capable and accomplished.
How to Communicate?
In order to achieve mutual understanding with an Alzheimer’s patient, you need to be communicating with them in a way that is easier for them to understand. Always keep your tone calm and words simple when talking to them. In order to have them focus on what’s being spoken, keep background distractions at a minimum. One of the most common mistake Alzheimer’s care givers make is to speak about the patient like they aren’t present there or to talk to them like a baby. Make sure that you maintain eye contact with them and that you have their attention before you address by their name.
It is also very useful for a stuttering Alzheimer patient who’s trying to remember a word to be provided with suggestions that you think they might be trying to remember. But always suggest words they might be looking for in a suggestive and calm tone.
Understanding an Alzheimer’s patient can be very difficult. However, you always need to hear out their concerns in order to make them feel heard and welcome.
Visit our SeniorCare Plus page for additional resources and suggestions.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Irvine or the surrounding Orange County areas, please call us at 949-535-2211. We provide senior care services in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Woods, Laguna Beach, Mission Viejo and surrounding areas of Orange County California. Contact us today to learn more.
Sources*
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/alzheimers-dementia-aging/tips-for-alzheimers-caregivers.htm
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/caregivers/in-depth/alzheimers-caregiver/art-20047577
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/alzheimers-disease-care-at-home-139990.htm
