For someone caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease, basic activities of daily living can be a struggle. Here are some tips specifically designed to make the life of the caregiver more bearable.
Daily Activities: What to do all day?
Finding activities that the person with Alzheimer’s disease can do and is interested in can be a challenge. Building on current skills generally works better than trying to teach something new.
*Don’t expect too much. Simple activities often are best, especially when they use current abilities.
*Incorporate activities the person seems to enjoy into your daily routine and try to do them at a similar time each day.
*Watch for signs of agitation or frustration with an activity. Gently help or distract the person to something else.
*Try to include the person with Alzheimer’s in the entire activity process. For instance, at mealtimes, encourage the person to help prepare the food, set the table, pull out the chairs, or put away the dishes. This can help maintain functional skills, enhance feelings of personal control, and make good use of time.
*Take advantage of adult day services, which provide various activities for the person with Alzheimer’s, as well as an opportunity for caregivers to gain temporary relief from tasks associated with caregiving.
Communication: Special Considerations
Trying to communicate with a person who has Alzheimer’s can be a challenge. Both understanding and being understood may be difficult.
*Choose simple words and short sentences and use a gentle, calm tone of voice.
*Minimize distractions and noise—such as the television or radio—to help the person focus on what you are saying.
*Call the person by name, making sure you have his or her attention before speaking.
*Allow enough time for a response. Be careful not to interrupt.
*If the person with Alzheimer’s is struggling to find a word or communicate a thought, gently try to provide the word he or she is looking for.
*Try to frame questions and instructions in a positive way.
Mealtimes and Nutrition
Eating can be a challenge. Some people with Alzheimer’s want to eat all the time, while others have to be encouraged to maintain a good diet.
*Aim for a quiet, calm, reassuring mealtime atmosphere by limiting noise and other distractions.
*Maintain familiar mealtime routines, but adapt to the person’s changing needs.
*As the disease progresses, be aware of the increased risk of choking because of chewing and swallowing problems.
Sleep Time Ideas
For the exhausted caregiver, sleep can’t come too soon. For many people with AD, however, the approach of nighttime may be a difficult time. Many people with AD become restless, agitated, and irritable around dinnertime, often referred to as “sundowning” syndrome. Getting the person to go to bed and stay there may require some advance planning.
*Encourage exercise during the day and limit daytime napping, but make sure that the person gets adequate rest during the day because fatigue can increase the likelihood of late afternoon restlessness.
*Set a quiet, peaceful tone in the evening to encourage sleep. Keep the lights dim, eliminate loud noises, even play soothing music if the person seems to enjoy it.
*Remember, each person with AD is unique and will respond differently, and each person changes over the course of the disease. Do the best you can, remind yourself to take breaks and look for help when you need it.
