The stress of learning your loved one has dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, is often overwhelming. It’s natural to experience a range of emotions — sadness, anger, fear, even guilt. But, even though there is no cure, you can stay connected to your loved one and help them have a good quality of life.
Understand dementia and plan early
Two common terms are important to understand: dementia and Alzheimer’s. Dementia is a group of symptoms connected to a decline in memory, reasoning, and thinking skills, while Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes those symptoms, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Familiarizing yourself with dementia symptoms and Alzheimer’s stages will help you notice if your loved one goes beyond normal forgetfulness when it comes to short-term memory, keeping track of items and appointments, paying bills, preparing meals, and traveling out of the neighborhood.
Alzheimer’s and other dementias progress at varying speeds, so getting diagnosed early is helpful because you’ll have time to discuss care with family members and research how professional caregiver services can help. You’ll also have time to create meaningful moments and ask your loved one about memories or anything important to you.
Prepare a comfortable living environment
While you likely want to respect your loved one’s desire to stay independent at home, you may be concerned about safety. This home safety checklist can help: From securing rugs to adding nightlights, small changes reduce risks and simplify everyday living.
Additionally, professional in-home caregiving eases daily responsibilities for your loved one and offers respite for family members who are pitching in. Check out this home care solutions guide to learn how to choose the right care partner.
That partner can help with current and future needs, such as managing finances, completing daily tasks like cooking or bathing, staying safe at home, traveling, and driving.
Live well with dementia
Help your loved one continue to enjoy the positive aspects of life by finding ways to live well:
● Receiving a dementia diagnosis doesn’t mean putting life on hold, so encourage your loved one to revisit or create a bucket list, reconnect with old friends, go on a dream trip, or enjoy new activities close to home.
● Hobbies and movement are good for cognitive and emotional health, and your loved one can even share their skills, such as knitting, storytelling, music, or gardening. Additionally, staying active can be as simple as light walking and chair exercises to support brain and body health.
● Take advantage of tools that support independence, like using smartphone apps for reminders, labeling items with sticky notes, and keeping important numbers by the phone.
A unique way for your loved one to feel empowered is to participate in clinical trials that could advance research toward future treatments. Explore options through trusted organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association or the National Institutes of Health.
You can also feel a sense of purpose by volunteering, which will connect you with families in similar situations. Find ways to get involved at the local, state, or national level.
Find community
While volunteering is a great way to reach out, it may feel overwhelming as a first step. An easy place to start is by learning from podcasts, like Caregiver Chats. Beyond that, you can sign up for an informational newsletter and connect with support groups.
For more information about caregiver resources that will help you and your family and about local in-home care, visit our website.
