Supporting a family member or friend with Alzheimer's or dementia is a journey that requires patience, empathy, and practical strategies. While our support staff at Serenity Support Care is here to assist with their everyday tasks and life routine, your role as a family member and friend is not just crucial; it's irreplaceable. Equipping yourself with the necessary tools can make the journey easier for everyone involved. In honor of Brain Awareness Month, we’ve provided ways you can best support them throughout this journey. Keep reading for more tips and information on how to best support a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other dementia!
1. Educate Yourself & Keep Learning
As with anything else, education is the best way to feel prepared and confident for whatever life throws your way. Understanding the stages of Alzheimer’s and different types of dementia can help you foresee changes and provide appropriate support. Keeping up to date with the latest research, treatments, and medical innovations will help you better understand the condition and available treatment options.
2. Communicate Effectively & Exercise Patience
Simple everyday motor functions like speaking and engaging in conversation get progressively more difficult as patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia decline with their condition. Speaking clearly and calmly, using simple sentences, and maintaining eye contact tend to help them understand you better. Additionally, a little extra patience on your part will be necessary, as they may need additional time for responses. Try not to interrupt or correct them harshly—these patients are also coming to terms with their newfound lack of control and lessened independence.
3. Create a Safe & Accessible Environment
Adjusting the environment for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia is a responsible way to reduce the risk of injury as much as possible. Remove hazards, install handrails, and ensure proper lighting to prevent falls and accidents. Decluttering and organizing living spaces to simplify the home will also help them find what they need more quickly and feel less overwhelmed by unnecessary things.
4. Establish & Implement Consistent Routines
Maintaining consistent, predictable schedules can give your loved one a sense of security and stability, reducing anxiety and stress. Calendars, clocks, labels, and other channels for reminders and cues will also help them remember daily activities and retain critical information.
5. Engage in Activities & Socialization
Finding fun activities your loved one will enjoy, such as puzzles, music, sudoku, or light exercise, will enrich and stimulate them. Encouraging socialization with peers, friends, and family will also help them avoid feelings of loneliness. These isolating feelings can sometimes cause the disease to progress more aggressively and rapidly.
6. Provide Emotional Support & Actively Listen
You should always provide emotional support to loved ones experiencing health conditions, and even more so with neurologically debilitating diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Offer comfort and reassurance, especially during episodes of confusion or agitation. Be deliberate about actively listening to validate their feelings so they feel supported.
7. Encourage Independence Whenever Possible
One of the most challenging parts about Alzheimer’s and dementia is the lack of independence one can feel as they decline from their condition. But your efforts can make a substantial difference. Promote autonomy by encouraging them to perform tasks they are capable of but know when to assist them when needed. Avoid taking over for more straightforward tasks but offer help with complex tasks. Your support can empower them and give them a sense of control.
8. Seek Professional Guidance & Support
Regularly communicating with your loved one’s healthcare professionals and caregivers is not just a suggestion; it's a lifeline. It helps you manage symptoms and monitor the condition's progression. Coping with Alzheimer’s and dementia is more manageable when the entire support circle is on the same page. Remember, you're not alone in this journey.
9. Remember to Take Care of Yourself
When we care for others, it can be easy to neglect self-care, especially when it comes to caring for someone with a disease as demanding as Alzheimer’s or dementia. Give yourself time and space to rest, recharge, and ask for help when needed. Don’t hesitate to seek assistance from other family members, friends, or professionals—at Serenity Support Care, we’re here to help whenever you need it!
10. Plan for the Future
Legal and financial planning is a significant part of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Ensuring such affairs are in order, including power of attorney and living wills, can alleviate some stress. Explore long-term care options and discuss them with your loved one while they can still participate in their decision-making; again, promoting as much autonomy as possible will be incredibly helpful for their well-being.
In-home caregivers make excellent resources and support systems for individuals coping with degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Still, it’s just as important that these individuals’ families and loved ones are informed on the best practices. By combining these approaches, you can provide comprehensive support to your loved one with Alzheimer's or dementia, enabling them to maintain their quality of life and dignity. For more information and resources, visit our website or contact us directly!