Advice on Providing Alzheimer’s Care in the Comfort of One’s Own Home

After receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease from an elderly family member or friend, many families decide to provide care for their loved one at home for as long as feasible. Alzheimer’s patients may often benefit greatly from remaining in their own homes for as long as they are able; but, as their condition worsens, doing so might become more challenging. Every day presents its own unique set of difficulties, unanticipated behaviours, and shifting capacities for various activities.

Since there is no treatment for dementia that is universally applicable to all patients, those who care for Alzheimer’s patients often develop their own approaches to manage the symptoms that are specific to their loved ones. In addition, the efficacy of certain treatments is likely to shift as the disease progresses in a patient, which further complicates matters. The only way to determine what works best for you and the person you care about is to constantly experiment and make mistakes.

How to Provide Alzheimer’s Patients with Care in Their Own Homes

Create a Schedule for Each Day

Establishing a regular routine of chores and activities helps Alzheimer’s patients remain focused and oriented in much the same way as having a home setting that is familiar may be comforting. You should start by monitoring the everyday activities of the person you care about and searching for trends in their mood and behaviour. You may need to adjust your expectations as a result of this knowledge in order to get the most out of your treatment plan. For instance, if they are often more lucid and cooperative in the morning, then modifying your schedule so that you may make the most of those lucid times may assist in making the rest of the day go more smoothly.

Keep in mind that Alzheimer’s patients’ skills and preferences often shift from day to day, and as a result, you should strive to be adaptable and flexible in order to accommodate these shifts. After this, you should think about adding the following advice to your Alzheimer’s care plan in order to guarantee a lengthy, secure, and fruitful experience of home-based care for both you and the person you care for.

Find Out Useful Advice About Alzheimer’s Communication

It may be quite difficult to communicate with a person who has Alzheimer’s disease, yet a good deal of the work that a family caregiver undertakes is dependent on there being an understanding between the two parties. Both the patients and the carers are likely to experience feelings of frustration and misunderstanding if there is a lack of clear communication. The following tips, when coupled with a significant amount of effort and patience, have the potential to enhance relationships and make everyday care responsibilities easier.

• Words should be kept to a minimum, sentences should be kept brief, and a soft, soothing tone of voice should be used.
• Talk to the person with Alzheimer’s disease in a leisurely and straightforward manner, but avoid talking to them in a childlike manner.

• Have a respectful attitude and avoid talking about them as if they weren’t there.
• Reduce the amount of background noise and distractions, such as the television or the radio, to assist the individual in concentrating on what you are saying and processing it.
• Give them ample time to react, and be cautious not to interrupt while they are trying to talk.
• If you are having trouble understanding what someone is attempting to convey to you, you should seek nonverbal cues and take into account the setting in which they are speaking.
• Get the ability to decipher meaning from gestures, descriptions, and substitutes.
• Instead of asking open-ended questions, try giving them options to choose from.

Make Adjustments to Your Day-to-Day Activities

The activities of daily living, often known as ADLs, are fundamental personal care duties that the majority of individuals are capable of doing independently. However, as Alzheimer’s patients’ functional skills deteriorate, performing these tasks may become more challenging for them. If you are able to get an understanding of how memory loss influences each ADL, adjust the scheduling of these activities, and modify the methods and items involved, you will be able to guarantee that they are accomplished in a manner that maintains the dignity of your loved one.

Bathing The act of bathing may be a terrifying and perplexing experience for many persons who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. The elderly may have the misconception that they have recently bathed, while in fact, it has been days or even weeks since they had their last shower. They may grow frightened of the water and the prospect of falling because of the procedure, which may cause them to become disoriented. Being sensitive to these concerns and making appropriate preparations will help make bath time more enjoyable for both of you.

Before you bring your loved one into the bathroom, check to make sure that you have all of the necessary bath supplies, towels, and assistive gadgets set up. Start running the water for the bath now.

Maintain a keen awareness of the ambient temperature as well as the temperature of the water. If it’s cold in the room, turn on the heater before you go in, and have extra towels and a robe close by. Before getting into the tub or shower, it is important to check the temperature of the water.

You may reduce the likelihood of an accident by installing grab bars, a shower seat, non-skid bath mats, and a showerhead with a hand shower. Never go somewhere alone with the individual who is using the shower or bathtub.

Go carefully and explain to the client what you are going to do with each successive step if they need assistance while showering. Make it feasible for him or her to participate in the process to the greatest extent possible.

It’s possible that you don’t need to shower every single day. In between full showers or baths, you may find that a sponge bath is more beneficial.

Dressing

The act of getting dressed may not seem to be all that difficult, but people living with Alzheimer’s disease and the caregivers who assist them have some distinct challenges. The capacity of an elderly person to detect when it is time to change dirty clothes, pick acceptable things to wear, and take off and put on clothing and footwear is negatively impacted by both physical and cognitive decline. Reducing the impact of these obstacles may have a substantial positive impact on the sensation of control and independence experienced by a loved one.

Always make sure to leave aside extra time before events like appointments and excursions so that they may dress as much as they are able without feeling rushed or under additional strain.

Give them a little assortment of clothing to choose from, and let them decide what they want to put on their bodies. If he or she has a certain ensemble or piece of clothing that they wear all the time, you may want to consider purchasing multiples of it or getting the same style in a few other colours.

Put some of their clothing in another room so they have fewer alternatives to choose from when it is time to get dressed. Alzheimer’s patients who are attempting to make a choice may get overwhelmed if they are presented with an excessive number of possibilities. They should only store a few garments in their closet or drawer at a time.

Organize the articles of clothes in the order that they are worn to assist in guiding the individual through the procedure.

Select articles of clothes that are not only comfortable but also simple to put on and take off and maintain. Dressing aids and adapted clothing items that use elastic waistbands and Velcro closures reduce the amount of effort required to deal with fussy fasteners such as buttons, zippers, and shoe laces.

Using the Bathroom and Taking Care of Incontinence

As the illness develops, many individuals who have Alzheimer’s begin to encounter problems using the toilet as well as impaired control over their bladder and bowel movements. It may be difficult for a senior citizen’s caregiver to address and control incontinence, which can be distressing and humiliating for the older citizen. Always be sure to address any changes with their doctor as soon as possible. Incontinence may sometimes be an indication of a physical ailment, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI), therefore it is important to do so.

When you practice timed voiding, you establish a restroom plan for yourself and try to adhere to it as closely as you can. For instance, be sure you stop and use the restroom at least once every three hours during the day, and don’t wait for the other person to urge you to. This involves keeping a record of when accidents occur so that measures may be taken to prevent such occurrences.

Keep an eye out for nonverbal indications that an elderly person may need to use the restroom, such as restlessness or tugging at their clothing, and respond promptly when you see them.

Reduce the amount of fluid you drink in the evening and just before bed to reduce the risk of having an accident at night.

It is important to make travel preparations in advance. Find out where the closest restrooms are, instruct the elderly person to wear clothing that is uncomplicated and quick to remove, and pack an additional change of clothes as well as resources for managing incontinence just in case anything happens.

Eating

Some persons with Alzheimer’s disease have an insatiable need to eat, whereas others with the illness have trouble consuming enough calories and minerals. Consuming food and drink requires coordination of fine motor skills as well as the use of one’s senses. Normal ageing processes as well as Alzheimer’s disease may cause these abilities to deteriorate, which can make eating and drinking more difficult. Altering the way that mealtimes are handled may assist a loved one in meeting their dietary requirements and maintaining a healthy body weight.

The individual should be allowed to pick what they would want to eat, but there should be a limited amount of alternatives available. Make an effort to provide meals that are attractive to the senses by offering a variety of flavours, textures, and colours.

Throughout the course of the day, serve either tiny amounts or multiple smaller meals. Patients with dementia may find it difficult to cope with large servings.

Choose plates and utensils for dining that encourage the diner’s sense of autonomy. If the individual has problems using utensils, try serving them food in a bowl rather than on a plate, or provide them utensils with thicker handles that are easier to hold. Serving meals that can be eaten with the fingers, such as miniature sandwiches, chicken fingers, and fruit bits, is another solution to the problem of difficulty using utensils.

Drinking can be much simpler and less messy if you make use of straws or cups that have lids.

A condition that causes trouble swallowing is referred to as dysphagia. As the illness advances, you should be aware of the increasing risk of choking and aspiration due to difficulty swallowing.

Discover Interesting Events, and Motivate People to Interact with One Another

Include in the daily care plan for your loved one activity and hobbies that are suited to their talents as well as the things that they are interested in doing. In most cases, it is more effective to build on existing abilities than to attempt to teach something new.

Assist the participant in getting started, and guide them through the activities step by step.

Keep an eye out for any indications of irritation or agitation. If they start to become aggravated, try to assist them to calm down or divert their focus to something else in a kind way.

Include them as much as possible in the activity process so that they can help you preserve your functional abilities, improve your sense of personal control, and make efficient use of your time. For example, when it is time for meals, you should urge the individual to participate in setting the table, helping prepare the food, and cleaning up after the meal.

Take advantage of the adult daycare services that are available for Alzheimer’s patients. 

These programs not only provide elders with a variety of activities and opportunities to interact with others, but they also allow caretakers a break.

Issues Associated with Sundowning and Sleep

In the late afternoons and nights, Alzheimer’s patients often exhibit behavioural symptoms such as agitation, restlessness, and irritability. This phenomenon is variously known as sundowning, sundowners, and sundown syndrome. Investigate the following tips for overcoming the shifts in attitude and behaviour, as well as the inability to sleep, that are brought on by sundowning.

Exercise and other activities that require greater physical effort should be done earlier in the day since research shows that this improves the quality of sleep. For instance, try moving stimulating or stressful tasks like taking a shower earlier in the day rather than later.

Reduce the number of naps taken later in the day, but make sure the individual receives enough sleep overall. Sundowning may be made worse by fatigue, which also makes it more likely that you will get restless in the late afternoon.

Reduce the amount of time spent on activities with the family and any other potential sources of distraction in the evening. Remove any distractingly loud sounds, put on some relaxing music, and watch as little television as possible since it may be stimulating.

If dread, pacing, or any other sundowning behaviours seem to be triggered by darkness and shadows in the house, make sure that it is adequately illuminated at all times.

Experiencing hallucinations and delusions both

An older adult who has Alzheimer’s disease may suffer hallucinations and/or delusions as the illness advances. This is because Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease. It usually takes a lot of experience, but one of the most important aspects of Alzheimer’s care is learning how to react to the symptoms that are associated with the disease.

Hallucinations and delusions are symptoms that may be caused by a medical ailment, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI). Maintain a record of the individual’s current symptoms and consult with that person’s primary care physician as soon as you can.

Do not engage the patient in a debate regarding the symptoms that they are feeling. Instead, you should affirm their sentiments and soothe them if they are scared when they express fear.

Watching unpleasant or violent movies or shows on television should be avoided. It’s possible that the individual with Alzheimer’s won’t be able to tell the difference between that and the actual world.

Check on the individual to make sure they are safe and that they do not have access to anything that might be used to do damage to themselves or others.

Wandering

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by a propensity in certain patients to get disoriented and wander, which may put them in a very precarious situation. The creation of a wandering prevention strategy safeguards patients from running away and becoming disoriented. Since the beginning of wandering behaviour may start at any moment and without any prior notice, it is essential to take the necessary safeguards.

Your loved one may have a tendency to stray, therefore it is important to alert the neighbours and the authorities in advance. Request that they get in touch with you or the authorities as soon as possible if the person is observed walking alone off of their property. Check with the local police agency or fire department to see if there is a program in your region for monitoring and finding people who are lost or wandering aimlessly.

Keep outside doors locked. Think about installing a keyed deadbolt or an extra lock on the door, either high up or low down. If the individual is able to open a lock simply because they are acquainted with it, installing a different kind of latch or lock may be helpful.

Set up an alarm or an “announcing system” that emits a bell every time one of the external doors or windows is opened.

Enhance the Safety of Your Home

Those who care for Alzheimer’s patients need to take a fresh look at their houses in order to spot potential dangers and eliminate them. Making your house a safer place to live may help you avoid a lot of unpleasant and perhaps deadly situations. This procedure starts with a safety evaluation of every room in the house, which may be carried out with the assistance of an expert in ageing in place or an occupational therapist if that is preferred.

It is a good idea to take the locks off the bathroom and bedroom doors of older citizens so that they cannot mistakenly lock themselves inside.

Always clearly label your prescriptions and store them in a secure cabinet or box designed specifically for pharmaceuticals.

Be sure that any potentially harmful things, such as knives, scissors, lighters, matches, weapons, power tools, and any other similar items, are safely stored and out of reach.

Make sure there is no clutter everywhere in the home, and get rid of any throw rugs or other potential trip hazards as soon as possible.

Be alert to potential hazards in the kitchen and plan ahead for dealing with them, such as forgetting to switch off the stove or oven. It is a good idea to avoid burns and home fires by equipping appliances with a switch that turns them off automatically.

Take Care of the Driving Problems.

Alzheimer’s disease has a direct impact on both the physical and cognitive capabilities required to drive a motor vehicle in a secure manner. It is famously difficult for families to make the choice to take away their automobile keys; thus, the decision has to be conveyed clearly and carried out with caution. Even if the individual may be frustrated by the fact that their independence is being challenged in this way, safety must always come first.

Watch for symptoms that they are no longer able to drive safely, such as becoming furious or confused, driving too fast or too slow, ignoring traffic signals, getting lost in familiar locations, and evidence of damage to their vehicle.

But, although you should be sympathetic to their worries about the prospect of losing their ability to drive, you should also be forceful in requesting that they stop doing so. Maintain consistency and don’t give them permission to drive on the “good days,” but do restrict it on the “poor days.”

Your loved one may put up an adamant fight against giving up the wheel when the time comes. Instead of disputing with them, provide them with other modes of transportation that will make it easier for them to keep their routines.

You should ask the doctor to utilize whatever influence they have to get your family member or friend to quit driving. The physician may also make a request for a reassessment of the patient’s driving abilities by contacting the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in their area.

Discover the Signs and Symptoms of Burnout in Alzheimer’s Caregivers

Care for a person who has dementia is emotionally taxing and very time-consuming. The choice to provide Alzheimer’s care for a family member or friend in the house is a monumental one that will have repercussions in all areas of the caregiver’s life. It is essential, not just for your own health but also for the health of the person you are providing care for, that you make self-care a priority.

Think About Employing a Home Care Provider

Respite care is an essential component of any Alzheimer’s care plan, and it provides advantages to both the patients and their family carers. It is not possible for a main caregiver to deliver 100 per cent of a patient’s care in a way that is safe and reliable, particularly given the fact that a patient’s requirements are always evolving. Your loved one’s care team will benefit greatly from the inclusion of professional caregivers who have much prior experience working with dementia patients. Care aides are able to help with all aspects of care, as stated above, as well as offer caregivers much-needed breaks and make it possible for elders to continue living in their homes.

Determine whether a Patient Suffering from Alzheimer’s Need a Higher Degree of Care

In the latter stages of Alzheimer’s disease, providing care for a patient at home may often become impossible due to the increased demands, risks, and costs involved. Caregivers within the family have a responsibility to acknowledge and honour their own limitations, keep an eye out for significant deterioration in the health of their loved one, and educate themselves on a variety of Alzheimer’s care alternatives that might be a better fit as their loved one’s day-to-day requirements become more complex.

It is essential that the person you care about go in for frequent checkups, despite the fact that some patients may become resistant to going to the doctor and receiving medical treatment. Your loved one’s cognitive and functional skills will be measured against a baseline with the help of the first tests that will be performed by a neurologist and/or geriatrician. The patient will be able to keep a closer eye on how their condition is progressing as a result of further tests and visits, which will also ensure that any newly emerging or deteriorating concerns are handled as soon as possible.

Be on the lookout for events and symptoms that may warrant substantial changes in a patient’s care plan, such as an increase in agitation or abusive behaviour, elopement, frequent falls, or the requirement for surveillance and/or nursing care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It’s possible that everyone would benefit from a shift in care providers, an expansion of the care environment, or both. If nothing is done to remedy the situation, not only does it put the patient’s health and well-being in jeopardy, but it also makes the lives of family members who provide caregiving duties taxing and may even put them in harm’s way.

Acquaint yourself with the care offered by hospice for dementia. There is a significant number of family caregivers who are not well-versed in the ins and outs of end-of-life care, particularly in relation to Alzheimer’s disease. Doing research about Alzheimer’s symptoms, hospice care and eligibility requirements, as well as how individuals pass away from Alzheimer’s disease, can help you be ready for providing care in the latter stages of the disease and the difficult choices that come with it.

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