A caregiver, sometimes referred to as a caretaker, refers to anyone who provides care for another person. Millions of people living in the United States take care of a friend or family member with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Sometimes caregivers live with the person or nearby, other times they live far away. For many families, caring for a person with dementia isn’t just one person’s job, but the role of many people who share tasks and responsibilities. Regardless of your role as a caregiver, taking care of another person can be overwhelming at times. These tips and suggestions may help with everyday care and tasks.
Tips for Everyday Care for People With Dementia
Early on in Alzheimer’s and related dementias, individuals experience changes in thinking, memory, and reasoning that significantly impact daily life and activities. Eventually, people with these diseases will need more help with simple, everyday tasks. This may include bathing, grooming, and dressing. It may not be enjoyable for the person to need help with such personal activities. Here are a few tips to consider early on and as the disease progresses:
- Try to keep a routine, such as bathing, dressing, and eating at the same time each day.
- Help the person write down to-do lists, appointments, and events in a notebook or calendar.
- Plan activities that the person enjoys and try to do them at the same time each day.
- Consider implementing a system or reminders to help those who must take medications regularly.
- When dressing or bathing, allow the person to do as much as possible.
- Buy loose-fitting, comfortable, easy-to-use clothing, such as clothes with elastic waistbands, fabric fasteners, or large zipper pulls instead of shoelaces, buttons, or buckles.
- Use a sturdy shower chair to support individuals who have difficulty standing or maintaining balance while bathing. And to prevent falls. You can purchase shower chairs at drugstores and medical supply stores.
- Be gentle and respectful. Tell the person what you are going to do, step by step, while you help them bathe or get dressed.
Serve meals in a consistent and familiar place, and give the person enough time to eat.
Tips for Changes in Communication and Behavior for People With Dementia
Communication can be hard for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias because they have trouble remembering things. They can also become agitated, anxious, or even angry. In some forms of dementia, language abilities are affected, causing people to struggle with finding the right words or experience difficulty speaking. You may feel frustrated or impatient, but it is essential to understand that the disease is causing a change in your communication skills. To help make communication easier, you can:
- Reassure the person. Speak calmly. Listen to their concerns and frustrations. Try to show that you understand if the person is angry or fearful.
- Allow the person to maintain as much control over their life as possible.
- Respect the person’s personal space.
- Build quiet times into the day, along with activities.
- Keep well-loved objects and photographs around the house to help the person feel more secure.
- Remind the person who you are if he or she doesn’t remember, but try not to say, “Don’t you remember?”
- Encourage a two-way conversation for as long as possible.
- Try distracting the person with an activity, such as a familiar book or photo album, if you are having trouble communicating with words.
Tips for a Healthy and Active Lifestyle for People With Dementia
Eating healthy and staying active is beneficial for everyone, and it is especially important for individuals with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. As the disease progresses, finding ways for the person to eat healthy foods and stay active may be increasingly challenging. Here are some tips that may help:
- Consider different activities the person can do to stay active, such as household chores, cooking and baking, exercise, and gardening. Match the activity to the person’s capabilities.
- Help get an activity started or join in to make the activity more fun. People with dementia may lack interest or initiative and struggle to initiate activities independently. But if others do the planning, they may join in.
- Add music to exercises or activities if it helps motivate the person. Dance to the music if possible.
- Be realistic about how much activity can be done at one time. Several short “mini-workouts” may be the best approach.
- Take a walk together each day. Exercise is good for caregivers, too!
- Buy a variety of healthy foods, but consider those that are easy to prepare, such as premade salads and single-serving options.
Give the person choices about what to eat, for example, “Would you like yogurt or cottage cheese?”
Tips for Home Safety for People With Dementia
As a caregiver or family member to a person with Alzheimer’s or related dementias, you can take steps to make the home a safer place. Removing hazards and adding safety features around the home can help give the person more freedom to move around independently and safely. Try these tips:
- If you have stairs, make sure there is at least one handrail. Place carpet or safety grip strips on stairs, or mark the edges of steps with brightly colored tape to make them more visible.
- Insert safety plugs into unused electrical outlets and consider safety latches on cabinet doors.
- Clear away unused items and remove small rugs, electrical cords, and other obstructions that could cause the person to trip and fall.
- Ensure that all rooms and outdoor areas the person visits have adequate lighting.
- Remove curtains and rugs with busy patterns that may confuse the person.
- Remove or lock up cleaning and household products, such as paint thinner and matches.
Tips for Caregivers: Taking Care of Yourself
Being a caregiver can be extremely rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming. Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia takes time and effort. It can feel lonely and frustrating. You might even feel angry, which could be a sign you are trying to take on too much. It is essential to make time for self-care. Here are some tips that may offer some relief:
- Ask for help when you need it. This could mean asking family members and friends to help or reaching out to local services for additional care needs.
- Eat nutritious foods, which can help keep you healthy and active for longer.
- Join a caregiver’s support group online or in person. Meeting other caregivers will give you a chance to share stories and ideas, and can help keep you from feeling isolated.
- Take breaks each day. Try making a cup of tea or calling a friend.
- Spend time with friends and continue pursuing your hobbies.
- Engage in regular exercise whenever possible. Try doing yoga or going for a walk.
- Try practicing meditation. Research suggests that practicing meditation may reduce blood pressure, anxiety and depression, and insomnia.
- Consider seeking help from mental health professionals to help you cope with stress and anxiety. Discuss treatment options with your doctor.
Tips for Caregivers: Taking Care of Yourself
Making health care decisions for someone who is no longer able to do so can be overwhelming. That’s why it is essential to plan healthcare directives. To help plan for the future, you can:
- Begin discussions with your loved one early so they can be involved in the decision-making process.
- Get permission in advance to talk to the doctor or lawyer of the person you’re caring for, as needed. There may be questions about care, a bill, or a health insurance claim. Without consent, you may not be able to get the required information.
- Consider legal and financial matters, as well as options for in-home care, long-term care, and funeral and burial arrangements.
Learning about your loved one’s disease will help you know what to expect as the dementia progresses and what you can do.
