Providing care for older adults with serious medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease is often an overwhelming job. The neurological condition causes seniors to gradually lose their self-control, thinking skills, and ability to function. If you’re going to be a caregiver for a senior loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, it’s important to learn the following five things.
1. Don’t Take Things Personally
Alzheimer’s caregivers often have to battle with feelings of frustration, loneliness, and neglect. It’s important to take a step back and remember it’s the disease making your loved one act ungrateful or rude. Try to remind yourself that your loved one is just confused, and anything he or she says or does isn’t meant to be a personal attack.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of homecare families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
2. Discover the Importance of Caring for Yourself
When you first start caregiving, it’s easy to get consumed with helping your loved one. However, Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive medical condition. To be helpful to your loved one, you need to take care of yourself and prevent caregiver burnout. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and try to take time off to focus on yourself every now and then.
If you’re the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality elderly home care, Rhode Island Home Care Assistance can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to changing the way seniors age.
3. Find Out How to Care for Seniors with Alzheimer’s
Providing care for a senior with Alzheimer’s requires a whole new set of skills. Take the time to research new communication methods such as pointing, gesturing, or using flash cards, and learn strategies for preventing your loved one from wandering or getting hurt. Plenty of great resources can be found through the internet, the library, and Alzheimer’s caregiver support groups.
4. Know How to Plan for the Future
Talk to your loved one about his or her future medical, financial, and legal needs. Meet with doctors and lawyers to set up healthcare plans and make sure your loved one’s affairs are in order. It’s easy to avoid these things when you’re a new caregiver, but it’s necessary to make plans while your loved one can still make decisions independently.
5. Focus on Happiness & Safety
A person with memory impairment may not always be able to remember everything perfectly or communicate effectively. Many caregivers try to force their loved ones to remember past skills, recall the names of old acquaintances, or stop asking the same question over and over. It may be frustrating to see your loved one’s health decrease, but don’t focus on fixing irreversible symptoms. Instead, avoid judging unusual behavior, and spend your time making sure your loved one is happy, safe, and free of pain.
Without the right assistance, Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors and their families to handle. If you’re looking for professional Alzheimer’s care, Rhode Island Home Care Assistance provides high-quality care aging adults and their families can count on. All of our hourly and live-in caregivers are trained to help seniors with Alzheimer’s live happier and healthier lives, and we also provide specialized dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care. To create a customized home care plan for your loved one, call Home Care Assistance at (401) 284-0979 today.