Living with and taking care of a person with Alzheimer’s disease can be challenging, too much stress can also be harmful to you. As a caregiver, you should find time for yourself. Be physically active and learn some relaxation techniques like deep breathing and meditation to help reduced your stress. Talk with other caregivers and find out how they cope with the challenges and educate yourself so you can better understand the disease. Below are some tips in taking care of a person with Alzheimer’s disease.
Keep tasks simple: Maintain the person’s routine and respect the person’s style in accomplishing things. Give step-by-step directions on how to complete a given task. Be tolerant of the errors and gently correct mistakes by guiding them.
Support the person’s independence: Be sensitive to their capabilities. Empower and allow them to accomplish tasks while they still can, yet reassure them that you are there to assist them when needed. Be sensitive and remember that even if the disease have changed how they behave drastically, they are still the same person that you respected and deeply loved.
Promote safety: Creating a safe environment is important. They may have difficulty with balance and body coordination leading to fall. Injury sustained from fall may limit their mobility. Avoid moving furniture because they might get disoriented. Always check for objects that may cause them to trip. Do not rush them. Keep a record of important names and telephone numbers to call in case of emergency.