Alzheimer's Care: Simple Tips for Everyday Tasks
Providing Alzheimer's care requires patience and flexibility. To reduce frustration, consider these tips for performing everyday tasks - from limiting choices and reducing distractions to creating a safe environment.
Alzheimer's Care: Simple Tips for Everyday Tasks[/caption]
In the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, your loved one still has the ability to live and work independently. However, as the disease progresses, his or her ability to
handle daily tasks will diminish. Think of practical tips to help your loved ones maintain their sense of independence and dignity as they become more dependent on you or other caregivers.
Alzheimer's Care - Reduce frustration
A person with Alzheimer's disease may become neurotic when tasks that were once simple become difficult or impossible. To reduce challenges and relieve frustration:
- Arrange appointments wisely: Establish a routine to make each day more predictable and less overwhelming. Schedule more difficult tasks, such as taking a shower or doctor visits, at the times of the day when your loved one is most calm and accepting.
- Take Your Time: Expect things to take longer than they used to. Set aside more time to get the tasks done so that you don't need to rush your loved one.
- Involve your loved one: Let your loved one do as many activities as possible with the least amount of assistance. For example, your loved one might get dressed on his own if you arrange the clothes for him in the usual way.
- Fewer choices: The fewer choices, the easier it is to make a decision. For example, offer him two clothes to choose from - not the entire wardrobe. Get rid of belts or accessories that are likely to be worn incorrectly.
- Give simple instructions: When you ask your loved one to do something, do it step by step each time.
- Reduce distraction factors and distraction: Turn off the TV and reduced the other distraction factors while eating and during the talks, so that your pet can concentrate better on the task carried out.
Alzheimer's Care - be flexible
Your loved one's ability to work and coexist will be steadily diminished. It may vary from day to today. Try to stay flexible and adapt your routine as needed.
For example, if your loved one suddenly doesn't like it, adjust the menu. If your loved one starts insisting on wearing the same outfit every day, consider buying some matching clothes. Then when your loved one starts to shower, change out of the worn clothes for clean clothes.
It may also require the omission of some of your controls. Bathing, for example, may not be necessary every day — especially if it bothers your loved one. Try sponge baths between showers or bathtubs.
Alzheimer's Care - Create a safe environment
Alzheimer's disease impairs judgment and problem-solving skills, increasing your loved one's risk of injury. To keep your loved one safe:
- Beware of Falls: Avoid cluttered rugs, straight wires, and any mess that could cause your loved one to slip or fall. Install handrails or grab handles in critical areas.
- Use locks: Install locks on cabinets that contain anything potentially dangerous, such as medicine, alcohol, guns, toxic cleaning materials, and dangerous machinery and tools.
- Check the water temperature: Reduce the temperature of the thermostat in the water heater to prevent burns.
- Take fire safety precautions: Keep matches and lighters out of reach. If your loved one smokes cigarettes, make sure they do so only under supervision. Make sure you have a readily accessible fire extinguisher, and that smoke alarms have new batteries.
Focus on individual care
Each person with Alzheimer's will experience the symptoms and progression of the disease differently. As a result, care delivery methods are bound to vary. Customize these practical tips to suit your loved one's individual needs.
Remember that your loved one's responses and behaviors may be different than they were before. Patience and flexibility — along with good self-care and support from friends and family — can help you deal with challenges and frustrating situations beforehand.