Alzheimer's Disease Support

Taking care of yourself physically can greatly improve the quality of your life.

• Eat healthy foods.
• Exercise every day, even if the exercise is just a short walk.
• Get regular health check-ups with your health care professional.
• Take your medication as directed by your health care professional.
• Maintain care of chronic diseases you may have, such as high blood pressure.
• Rest when you are tired.
• Drink alcohol in moderation (1-2 drinks per day or less).
• Don't smoke.

Emotional health is important as well. When diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, you may feel a range of emotions, including:

• Denial about having Alzheimer's disease
• Frustration
• Anger, depression
• Loneliness
• Fear

These feelings are normal. Learn to deal with these emotions in a healthy manner so you are not overwhelmed by them.

• Talk with your physician about what you are feeling. He or she will be able to offer suggestions that may help.
• See a counselor or clergy member
• Join a support group.
• Write about how you feel in a journal.
• Tell your family and friends about the feelings you're experiencing.
• Continue to participate in activities you enjoy for as long as you are able.
• Do difficult tasks when you feel up to them. Don't rush yourself, and don't let others rush you.
• Take breaks from activities or tasks if you need to to avoid frustration and fatigue.

Research suggests that keeping yourself mentally active is vital and may slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. It may also help keep your brain cells and the connections between them strong, which may add further protection against mental decline.

• Try crossword puzzles, games, and other activities that make you think.
• Read and keep up on current events.
• Write
• Attend community classes.
• Watch educational programs and videos.
• Socialize in settings that are comfortable to you.

With assistance, many individuals can live on their own during the early stage of Alzheimer's disease.

• Arrange for someone to help you with housekeeping, chores, meals, and transportation. For information about assistance available in your community, contact your local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association or your physician.
• Make arrangements for direct deposit of checks, such as your paycheck (if you work), pension, and Social Security benefits.
• Make arrangements for help in paying bills. You can give someone you trust the legal authority to handle financial matters.
• Have family, friends, or a community service program call or visit daily. Keep a list of things for these people to check and a list of concerns to discuss with them.
• Give a set of house keys to a trusted neighbor.
• Ask someone to regularly check your smoke alarm, fire alarm, and other security devices.

As Alzheimer's disease progresses, your memory will slowly become worse. Below are some tips to help you deal with these changes.

• Post a schedule of the things you do every day, no matter how "trivial" they may be. Examples include meal times, exercise, chores, your medication schedule, and bed time.
• Keep a calendar of appointments. Mark off days to help you keep track of time.
• Have someone call to remind you of meal times, your medication schedule, and any appointments.
• Keep a notebook containing important phone numbers, people's names, your address and phone number, directions to your home, and any thoughts or ideas you want to hold on to.
• Tape important phone numbers next to the phone.
• Have someone help you label and store medications in a pill organizer.
• Label photos of important people and people you see most often with their names.
• Have someone help you organize closets, cupboards, and drawers so that you can find what you need more easily. Label these places with words or pictures that say what is inside.
• Post reminders where you will be sure to see them (for example, on your bathroom mirror) to make sure appliances are turned off and to lock doors. Have someone call you before you go to bed to make sure these things are done.

Communicating can be frustrating at times. Let your family and friends know this. Let them know when and how you may need their help and support.

• When talking, take your time.
• Ask the person you are talking with to repeat a statement, to speak slowly, or to write down words if you are having trouble understanding.
• Find a quiet place to talk if there are distractions.
• Let your family and friends know when something becomes too difficult for you to do on your own, and arrange for others to help you with difficult tasks.
• Write down your questions or concerns as you think of them; share these with people when you see or talk to them.

If someone you love has Alzheimer's disease (AD), watching the effects of the disease on that person can be difficult. If you are a caregiver, helping your loved one make decisions, maintain hygiene, and deal with the changes he or she is experiencing can be very stressful, even overwhelming at times.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease can involve a lot of work and worry. Following the tips below may help you spend more quality time with your loved one and cut down on worrying when you can't be with him or her.

Alzheimer's disease can cause a person to exhibit unpredictable and uncharacteristic behaviors, including mood swings, aggression, combativeness, delusions, wandering, and repetition of words. Both the person with Alzheimer's disease and his or her caregiver can become frustrated and tense. Realizing that the person is not acting this way on purpose and adjusting to the changes can help you not to become so frustrated.

Behavior changes can be caused by any of the following:

• The inability to recognize familiar people, places, and things
• Failure to effectively communicate
• Difficulty doing common tasks or activities
• Physical discomfort because of an illness or medications
• Overstimulation from a loud or busy environment

When responding to behaviors, try the following:

• Use a calm and relaxed tone of voice
• Be patient, flexible, and understanding
• Acknowledge and respond to requests
• Don't argue or interrupt
• Try not to take behaviors personally
• Show interest in what the person is saying or doing
• Point to things you are talking about

Staying involved in daily activities is important for a person with Alzheimer's disease. You can help your loved one remain involved for as long as he or she is able to.

• Make the activities part of your daily routine so that they stay or become familiar.
• Make the instructions simple. Put instructions into simple steps if necessary.
• Focus on the enjoyment and involvement of the activity, not necessarily the achievement of it. If your loved one becomes frustrated, take a break.
• Decide what time of day is best for each activity.
• Be willing to transport your loved one to meetings, appointments, or engagements that are important to him or her.
• Offer supervision if necessary.
• Be patient and flexible.
• Help the person remain as independent as possible for as long as possible.

When caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease at home, whether in your home or in his or hers, safety and accessibility are concerns.

• Make potentially dangerous areas less accessible by using safety devices such as childproof locks and door knobs (for instance, to limit access to places where knives and cleaning fluids are stored).
• Because changes in levels of light can be disorienting, adapt for visual changes.
  • Diffuse bright light by covering windows and removing or covering up mirrors and glass-top furniture.
  • Add extra lighting in entries, by landings, in hallways, and in bathrooms.
• Prevent harm during daily activities.
  • Supervise the person in taking medications.
  • Monitor the temperature of water faucets and food.
  • Install walk-in showers, grab bars, and decals to slippery surfaces in the bathroom.
• Beware of hazardous objects and substances.
  • Limit the use of potentially dangerous appliances and equipment such as mixers, grills, knives, and lawnmowers.
  • Remove furniture with sharp corners.
  • Regularly clean out the refrigerator.
  • Supervise smoking and alcohol consumption.
• Prepare for emergencies.
  • Keep with you a list of emergency phone numbers and addresses including local police and fire departments, hospitals, and poison control help lines.
  • Check fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, fire alarms, and other security devices. Regularly conduct fire drills.

Communicating with someone with Alzheimer's disease can be frustrating at times, for both you and your loved one. Understand that the person with AD is probably just as frustrated as you.

• Speak slowly and clearly.
• Use short, simple, familiar words.
• Maintain eye contact, using friendly facial expressions.
• Show that you are listening and trying to understand.
• Use a gentle, relaxed tone of voice and stay calm.
• Encourage the person to continue to communicate even if he or she is having a hard time.
• Be careful not to interrupt.
• Avoid criticizing, correcting, and arguing
• Always approach the person from the front, address him or her by name, and identify yourself if necessary.
• Break instructions into clear, simple steps.
• Ask one question at a time and allow enough time for an answer.
• Don't quiz the person, and don't react negatively if your loved one doesn't recognize something or someone.
• Point to objects or areas.
• Avoid talking about the person as if he or she weren't there.
• Be patient, flexible, and understanding.
• Remember that behavior changes such as aggression and combativeness are not your fault.