HealthBridge's In-Home Care Blog

To say providing care for someone with Alzheimer's Disease is tough is like calling the the White Rock Marathon a jog.  Running the Rock is an immense, grueling, 26.2 mile run.  

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's is also an immense, grueling run, but it's a whole lot longer than 26.2 miles.  

So how do you do it?  You train.  How do you train well?  You seek expert advice.  

We care for loved ones with Alzheimer's Disease every day, so we seek a lot of expert advice.  

Since November is National Alzheimer's Awareness Month, we asked our friend John Gilchrist, CEO of the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, to share his thoughts on caring for someone with Alzheimer's Disease. 

Here are John's Tips for Enhancing Life of a loved one with Alzheimer's:  

• Help maintain abilities rather than learn new skills.

• Make a list of the things the person loves and the things he or she hates - emphasize the "loves" and as much as possible eliminate the "hates."

• Keep changes in routine and environment to a minimum.

• Simplify, simplify, simplify (routines, tasks, communication, choices)

• Assure physical activity during the day, eliminate caffeine, be alert to wandering behavior at night.

• Structure the environment for safety.  Put dangerous substances or objects out of sight (maybe under lock).  Put breakables away.  Make sure there's plenty of light but eliminate glare.  Eliminate throw rugs.  Be sure there is someone with the person out in the community.

• Minimize distractions when the person is eating.  Allow more time to eat.  Make sure he or she has what they like.

• Remember to be social - instead of "you have to brush your teeth", try "we need to brush our teeth", you may have to demonstrate what your loved one with Alzheimer's disease needs to do.

Follow these tips from the Alzheimer's Association CEO and you'll enhance the life of the Alzheimer's sufferer you care for.

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