Caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease

Supporting or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be a rewarding experience, giving you the opportunity to help someone important to you have a better quality of life along with enabling you to learn new skills. However, it can also be emotional and at times, challenging, which is why we’ve put together some tips to help you look after yourself and plan ahead so that you can make a big difference to you and your loved ones life.

In the early stage of Alzheimer's disease, most people continue to function independently; some may still work, drive and take part in social activities. However, just as each individual with Alzheimer’s disease is affected differently, the care they require varies too.  If you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia, it is important to provide support and companionship and help them plan for the future.

Plan and prepare for what’s to come

Understanding and learning about your loved ones Alzheimer’s diagnosis and how it will likely progress over time, will help you prepare for future challenges and enable you to foster realistic expectations.

The earlier you put plans in place, the more your relative or friend can be involved in making decisions regarding their own future. You’ll need to liaise with relatives and their medical team in order to make legal and financial arrangements to determine long-term care options that are most suited to the individual. 

Key points to consider:

• Who will make healthcare and financial decisions when they are no longer able to do so?
• How will their increasing care needs be met?
• Where will your loved one live?

Have a support plan in place

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia can be demanding and requires patience, skill and planning. It is so often the case that through devotedly caring for someone, carers and/or family members can neglect their own wellbeing. It’s important to remember that you need to have substantial physical and emotional support in place for yourself so that you can continue to provide the best level of care to your loved one.

Knowing when to ask for help is imperative to preventing burnout. By reaching out to other family members for assistance and making time for you, you can help relieve some of the daily stresses carers face. Joining support groups and making use of available resources will give you the opportunity to learn from others experiences and connect with people that understand what you’re going through.

Regular exercise and relaxation techniques can help combat stress and boost your mood along with your energy levels.

Develop routines

Having a sense of consistency and daily routine can be constructive for both your loved one and you. Whilst routines may not always be stuck to, having consistent times for daily activities such as waking up, bathing, dressing, eating, having visitors and bedtime can help orientate a confused person.

Try to involve your loved one in daily activities as much as they’re able. You want to ensure that the Alzheimer’s patient is getting enough stimulation from sensory experiences and socialising but be mindful not to overstimulate them and cause unnecessary stress.

Be prepared for changes in communication

As your loved one progresses through the stages of Alzheimer’s disease, you will start to notice changes in the way they communicate. It might be that they struggle to find the right words or are easily confused. Have empathy and remember that they can’t help how Alzheimer’s disease is affecting their ability to communicate.

Keep your communication short and clear, for example, give one direction or ask questions one at a time so as not to overload them. Closed questions can prevent the stress Alzheimer’s patients often face when they are faced with trying to recall something. Using questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no such as “Did you enjoy the trip to the park today?” rather than “What did we do today?”

Dealing with difficult behaviours

One of the most significant challenges of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is handling the difficult behaviour and personality changes that can often occur as symptoms progress. These can include wandering, hallucinations, aggression, difficulty eating or sleeping all of which can be distressing to watch.

Often these behaviours stem from frustration and stress relating to their attempts to communicate or changes in their environments.  By making simples changes, you can alleviate your loved ones stress improving their wellbeing and your own caring experiences. Try to identify the cause of their behaviour and create a calm and soothing environment.

When to seek professional help

As the condition progresses, people with Alzheimer’s disease will require more care and you may need assistance to carry out physically demanding tasks such as bathing, moving or dressing a person. You might want to consider reaching out to local care providers to help you if your loved ones care needs increase.

Nurseplus Care at home understands that receiving person-centred care in your own home allows those with dementia symptoms to feel comfortable. Being in familiar surroundings is crucial for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. We are fully equipped to provide support to your loved ones in the comfort of their own home ensuring a safe and secure environment at all times. All of our nurses, healthcare assistants and home carers receive regular fully-accredited training to prepare them to deliver the best practice in care at all times.