Having a family member become diagnosed with Alzheimer’s can be a difficult and overwhelming experience. The tasks that come to follow can bring new challenges as you learn to adapt to the new patterns of behavior that can fruition. Daily tasks that may have been simple and second nature can now become something new to manage and build into your life as you help these individuals. However, incorporating a new mindset and strategies into your daily routine can help you cope with these changes.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all strategy for dealing with these new behaviors and, at times, stressful situations. Although, you can gather what others have experienced and, through trial and error, see what works best for you and the individual you are helping. Every person with Alzheimer’s will handle these situations differently, and the effectiveness of one strategy may change as their stage of dementia changes.
Alzheimer’s General Stages
By understanding the general stages of Alzheimer’s can bring clarity and understanding to what these individuals are going through. It can also help you plan ahead and know what to expect as their level of dementia will change. The three primary stages consist of: mild, moderate, and severe.
Mild
The mild stage is the earliest stage of Alzheimer’s. The individuals at this stage can still function normally and participate in regular professional and social environments. Individuals at this stage may have trouble remembering certain events, have difficulty concentrating, or forget words or names of others.
Moderate
The moderate stage can involve more significant memory loss, confusion, and some more physical symptoms. This can be more noticeable as they can have difficulty recognizing people, including family and friends. Tasks that involve specific instructions or even day-to-day tasks such as getting dressed can be difficult. At this stage, you will see other more intense symptoms such as:
- Trouble falling asleep and restlessness
- Wandering or possibly getting lost
- Urinary or fecal incontinence
- Personality shifts
Severe
The final stage that individuals experience in Alzheimer’s comes with them needing assistance with nearly every aspect of their lives. This means eating, walking, and even sitting up to perform tasks. It can be challenging to engage in any form of conversation or even mobile functions like chewing or swallowing. They can lose complete awareness of their surroundings and environment and may no longer be able to recognize family members.
What You Can Do As A Caregiver
If you’re the one having to take on the role of caregiver, having to manage daily tasks will continue to build over time. Getting a grip on regular tasks and knowing how to balance them out in your daily life will make it easier as new tasks come about. To help limit your frustration, take these into consideration.
Schedule out time
By establishing a daily routine, many tasks such as bathing and medical appointments become easier. You can also figure in some flexibility when looking at time for any sudden activities or delays that can occur.
Take your time
Like anything else, patience is key. It’s best to anticipate that some tasks may take longer than others and keep in mind that you will need a break as well.
Keep the individual involved.
When possible, let the individual in need do as much as possible with as little interference and assistance. Things such as letting them get dressed and laying out their clothes is a great step.
Give them choices
By providing some, not many, but choices every day will help them with decision making and help you understand their state of mind. Some options such as choosing between two outfits, beverage options, or between two activities are perfect.
Give simple instructions
The best thing to keep in mind is clear, simple, one-step communication. This prevents them from being overwhelmed and helps them focus more than giving them multiple steps to take.
Keep naps at a minimum.
Who doesn’t love a good nap midway through the day? However, to prevent the individual from getting their nights and days mixed up, small naps are best.
Reduce as many distractions as possible
In our digital age, it’s difficult to pull away from screens. However, keeping the TV and iPads away during tasks such as mealtime and conversations can make it much easier for them to focus more efficiently.
Keep the area safe
Dementia can impair their judgment and their ability to solve problems. Keep clutter out of the way, and avoid floor materials such as cords or scatter rugs to prevent them from falling. We recommend using locks to keep dangerous items safe. Think of having a child-safe house to make it easier for you to create these precautions.
Santa Teresa Providers Will Help With Alzheimer’s
Our mission is to help those who need it the most. Our caretakers are brought on for specific needs for every patient we help. We also want to make it easier for you to do what you can when you’re with the loved one that has Alzheimer’s. Give us a call if you have any questions, and stay up to date with solutions in our future blogs.
