Providing Alzheimer’s care requires flexibility, patience, and planning. Seniors with Alzheimer’s can become agitated when tasks that were once simple become difficult, and caregivers can become frustrated with the challenges of meeting their aging loved ones’ care needs. Caregivers can use the following tips to make daily living better for both themselves and their loved ones.
Schedule Wisely
You can establish a routine that makes each day less confusing and more predictable. Also, try to schedule the most difficult tasks, such as medical appointments, during the time of day when your loved one is most calm and agreeable.
One of the most important things to consider is whether and when to hire a professional caregiver for your loved one. Families looking for top-rated in-home care 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.
Take Your Time
Expect things to take longer than before the Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and plan accordingly. Schedule more time for every activity so your loved one doesn’t end up feeling rushed or hurried, which can lead to an outburst.
Involve Your Loved One
Allow your loved one to do as much as possible on his or her own with as little assistance as necessary. For example, if your loved one is able to dress independently, simply lay out his or her clothes in the order he or she should put them on.
Trained Alzheimer’s caregivers can be a wonderful source of information and support for family caregivers. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care service. Lakewood families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
Limit Choices
The fewer options seniors with Alzheimer’s have, the easier it will be to make a choice. For instance, provide two outfits your loved one can choose from instead of an entire closet of clothes. Feeling overwhelmed can also lead to outbursts or other challenging behaviors.
Provide Simple Instructions
If you ask your loved one to do something, have him or her do it one step at a time, and clearly articulate each step as you go.
Reduce Distractions
Minimize distractions during conversations and at mealtimes so your parent can focus on the tasks at hand. This is also important if your loved one tends to feel stressed or overly stimulated in group settings. Your loved one’s demeanor and symptoms will vary a little from day to day. Consider relaxing expectations a little bit—bathing may not be necessary every day—to help both you and your loved one feel less stressed and frustrated.
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. Lakewood 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. To learn about our premier in-home care plans and how they can help your loved one, give us a call at (303) 987-5992 today.