Has your loved one recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s? If you’re planning to provide Alzheimer’s home care for them, you may not know where to start.
Here’s your helpful guide to Alzheimer’s home care.
Create a Safe Environment at Home
Alzheimer’s home care needs to be performed in a safe environment. Before you start caring for your loved one, make sure the home will be safe for them. Tripping hazards, like area rugs or cords, should be removed so your loved one doesn’t fall. Any clutter, like boxes on the floor, should also be removed.
Door locks are another concern. On interior doors, like bathroom doors, you may want to remove the locks so your loved one can’t lock themselves inside. On exterior doors, you can move the locks to a higher position so they’re not in your loved one’s line of sight. This makes it harder for them to wander outside.
Help Your Loved One Stay Independent
In the early stages of the disease, people with Alzheimer’s can still retain a lot of their independence. As a caregiver, you don’t need to do everything for your loved one. Trying to do everything around the house creates more work for you and may upset your loved one.
Instead, only help your loved one with tasks they can’t safely do on their own. For example, a person who can’t safely operate the washer or dryer may be able to fold clothes. Someone who can’t cook safely may be able to set the table perfectly. Let your loved one do as much as they can to help them stay independent.
Stick to a Routine
Short-term memory loss is one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease. This can make it harder for people to keep track of time and stay focused on tasks. That’s why sticking to a routine is an important part of Alzheimer’s home care. When your loved one has a regular routine, they can stay grounded, even when they don’t know what time it is.
Set a daily routine and try to stick to it as closely as possible. Activities like meals, bathing, and exercise should happen at the same times each day. If your loved one already has some routines—like watching certain television shows at certain times—try to include them in your schedule.
Help Your Loved One Have Fun
People with Alzheimer’s can get bored or lonely, just like anyone else can. They may not be able to fully participate in some of their favourite activities anymore, which can be frustrating. As a caregiver, you can help your loved one have fun. The types of fun activities you can do will vary based on your loved one’s interests and ability levels.
For example, you could take your loved one for lunch or dinner at a familiar restaurant. You could perform familiar tasks together, like going for a walk or going fishing.
Get Help from Professional Caregivers
The most important thing to remember about caring for someone with Alzheimer’s is that you don’t have to do everything on your own. You can get help from professional caregivers. Professional caregivers can help your loved one with everything from personal care to household tasks to transportation. They can even provide around-the-clock Alzheimer’s and dementia care, if that becomes necessary for your loved one.
When you get help from professional caregivers, you can take a break from caregiving and relax. Taking breaks is important for your health and well-being. Have a conversation about senior home care with your loved one soon so you can be prepared to hire professionals.
