People who have Alzheimer’s receive care and daily assistance from their family, close friends, or partners. Caring for Alzheimer’s patients might be a challenge, thus caregivers need to have flexibility and patience. Here are a few tips on how to look after people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Establish a Routine
Caregivers can help their patients feel more comfortable by following a constant daily routine. Following a routine can promote familiarity with the person who has Alzheimer’s. The patient might feel disoriented and confused if there are significant changes to the routine. For unavoidable changes, caregivers should try to change them gradually to give the patient significant time to adjust.
Communication Techniques
Those with Alzheimer’s have a weaker ability to communicate with others. It is difficult for them to interpret and remember specific words. They may also lose focus and their train of thought in a middle of a sentence.
Here is a list of strategies to make communication easier:
- Always smile and make eye contact
- Use the patient’s name
- When asking a question, only do it one at a time
- Try to use a soft and relaxed voice when speaking
- Adopt an open and relaxed body language
By following these techniques, the person with Alzheimer’s will be given a chance to communicate and also relieve pressure on the caregiver.
Conduct Activities
Activities can boost the morale of the patient. Try engaging in fun activities with the individual, but make sure they are in a good mood. Some may be more alert at night and others may feel the brightest early in the morning, it varies from person to person. If you bring your patient out for an activity, observe their energy levels, and return home before they get too exhausted.
Ensure the Home is Safe
Normal situations can put a person with Alzheimer’s in danger. Thus, it is important to establish safety measures to make sure they do not feel unsafe.
Some safety tips include:
- Place latches on cabinet doors
- Replace small rugs with bigger ones
- Place mats and handrails in the shower
- Place covers on all electrical outlets
- Smooth out any sharp corners on the furniture
- Install safety locks on the stove
Also, depending on the severity of their symptoms, it might not be advisable to leave them unattended in the shower or allow them to cook on their own.
Promote Nutritious Eating
Your loved one might lose appetite easily when eating, but they need to maintain balanced nutrition and stay hydrated.
Ensure they get enough nutritious food by following these tips:
- Serve meals at the same time every day
- Use colorful plates when serving food
- Turn off the radio or television during mealtimes
- Serve food that is easy to chew and swallow
- When preparing food, include foods with cognitive benefits
- Include seafood in meal planning
Caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients may experience a big range of positive and negative emotions when helping their loved ones. If the condition of the patient progresses, it is crucial to get additional help from other family members or professional healthcare services.
