Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease can feel like trying to solve a continuously evolving puzzle. As soon as you figure out the solution to one segment, you discover that the picture has changed, and you need to rethink your strategy.
Working with the puzzle of Alzheimer’s and dementia care requires ongoing education and a team approach, including professionals specially trained in the many facets of Alzheimer’s disease support. Aker Kasten Home Health Care, providers of adult care services in Boca Raton, FL and surrounding communities, offers the following tips courtesy of the Alzheimer’s Association, to assist families in adapting care strategies throughout the stages of Alzheimer’s:
- Early Stages: Family members can best assist a loved one with Alzheimer’s through planning together, providing a patient, calm listening ear and memory prompts when needed. Strategies include:
- Be a care advocate for your loved one, providing emotional support and encouragement.
- Help plan for the future.
- Provide memory prompts, establish a daily routine, and help your loved one stay healthy and engaged in what he or she loves doing.
- Middle Stages: Care strategies will be focused on flexibility, patience and daily structure with time for self-care for the caregiver. Strategies include:
- Maintain daily routines and structure.
- Enhance quality of life by doing simple activities together, such as gardening or walking.
- Encourage as much independence as possible, but be ready to assist when needed.
- Late Stages: Compassionate caregiving is focused on preserving the dignity and quality of life for your loved one while maintaining a safe, clean and healthy environment. Strategies include:
- Stay connected and express caring through touch, sound, sight, taste and smell.
- Assist with eating and toileting, and with relieving body pressure if your loved one is bedridden.
- Be aware of non-verbal cues such as paleness, swelling, agitation or wincing facial expressions that can indicate pain.
The most important way to care for and support your loved one through the stages of Alzheimer’s is by taking care of yourself. Acknowledge that you can’t do it alone, and allow others the opportunity to help, making sure to take time away regularly to rest and recharge. Partnering with a professional home care agency experienced in Alzheimer’s and dementia care such as Aker Kasten Home Health Care, allows for a smoother journey through the process, benefiting both the care recipient and his or her family caregivers. Contact Aker Kasten Home Health Care at 561.955.6010 to learn more about our adult care services in Boca Raton, FL and the surrounding areas.