When a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, it isn’t just their own life that’s affected. The lives of yourself and other members of your family may change as well. With any kind of dementia, it can take time to learn how to help your loved one live with their condition.
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s requires a balanced mix of support, lifestyle adjustments, and self-care. However, there may be a point where you can no longer safely care for your loved one at home and you need to start considering memory care.
Learning more about Alzheimer’s can help you make the right choices for your loved one and yourself.
What Is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia and accounts for 60–80% of all diagnosed cases. This is a progressive neurological disorder that affects a person’s cognitive abilities.
Alzheimer’s develops due to damaged brain cells. Over time, these cells can shrink, physically changing the structure of the brain itself. This eventually leads to neurodegeneration— where the brain cells begin to die—and can cause a range of symptoms, such as:
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Difficulty planning or solving problems
- Confusion with time or place
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
- Decreased or poor judgment
- Changes in mood and personality
As Alzheimer’s progresses, these symptoms can get worse. When they do, they can make your loved one’s everyday life more difficult and often lead to the need for a higher level of care.
Establish a Daily Routine
One common problem caused by Alzheimer’s disease is a mix of frustration and confusion about everyday activities. Consistency is key to reducing the effects of Alzheimer’s, so start by establishing a daily routine for your loved one.
Try to plan out the following details:
- Starting the day with simple tasks, such as brushing your teeth and having breakfast together. Consistency helps set a positive tone for the day.
- Serving meals at the same time each day to create familiarity and reduce anxiety around eating.
- Engaging in gentle activities like walking, gardening, or listening to music at the same time every day, which can provide comfort and relaxation.
- Winding down with calming activities, such as reading a book or watching a favorite show, to create a peaceful transition to bedtime.
It helps to use visual cues to outline daily plans, like a calendar on the walls or a whiteboard. This can help ground your loved one and reduce those feelings of anxiety, offering a sense of predictability to every day.
Prioritize Their Safety
Safety is paramount when cognitive impairments are involved. You need to make sure your loved one is safe in their own home, so try to:
- Remove tripping hazards that may go overlooked.
- Ensure all walkways are clear and well-organized.
- Install grab bars in bathrooms and near stairs to provide extra support and stability.
- Make sure that lighting is bright enough to prevent falls, especially in areas like hallways and staircases.
- Use labels on doors and drawers to help with navigation around the home.
- Keep emergency contact numbers in plain sight so your loved one can quickly find them if needed.
Prioritizing your family member’s safety shows care and compassion, and this proactive approach can be key to helping your loved one feel secure and supported.
Practice Self-Care
Caregiving can be a rewarding experience, but it can bring several unique challenges too. It’s natural to feel the desire to occasionally put your own needs aside, but this is a habit to watch out for—it can quickly lead to burnout if you aren’t careful.
You can recognize the early signs of burnout from:
- Feeling overwhelmed or stressed regularly
- Experiencing changes in sleep patterns, such as insomnia or sleeping too much
- Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Feeling irritable or on edge more often
- Withdrawing from family and friends
Every day, try to set aside a few minutes to focus on your own needs. Burnout quickly impacts the quality of care you provide, and it can eventually compromise your loved one’s well-being if you aren’t careful.
Remember: your needs are important as well, so make sure you don’t push yourself too far.
When Is It Time for Memory Care?
Sometimes, the best way to deal with Alzheimer’s as a family member is to seek out professional care—like that offered by a memory care community near you.
Memory care offers a specialized approach to supporting seniors living with Alzheimer’s disease. This is a type of senior living that focuses on providing quality care in a way that can truly make a difference in your loved one’s quality of life. It’s an excellent option that restores a sense of independence and dignity to your loved one regardless of their cognitive impairments.
If you’re struggling to care for a family member with Alzheimer’s at home, it may be time for memory care.
Choosing Your Loved One’s Future Home
Alzheimer’s disease is a complex condition, but our team at Kingston at Dupont knows how to help. In our community, your loved one can enjoy every single day doing the things they love, all while our team provides them with compassionate, quality care. We’re here for you and your family, and we know how to make a difference.
Schedule a tour with us today!
