Helping an aging family member who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease is not easy at all. But with the right tools at your disposal, it’s a lot easier for you to have the room to make the choices that you need to make. Here are a few ways that you and your Alzheimer’s Care Provider can use to face some of those challenges head-on.
Keep Learning as Much as You Can about Alzheimer’s Disease
The more that you understand about Alzheimer’s disease, the easier it is for you to get your elderly family member the help and the support that she needs. There are strides made every day in Alzheimer’s research and in what medical professionals understand about how this disease impacts the people it touches. Keeping up with that information can help you and your senior’s doctors to take the best possible care of your senior.
Make a List of All of the Difficulties You’re Facing
It’s overwhelming to be a family caregiver and often you don’t even realize all that you’re doing and all that you’re responsible for handling. Putting it all out on paper may feel even more daunting, but it can be a helpful tool. Once everything is on paper, you may be able to see areas of your life that you can hand over to someone else so you can focus on what is truly important.
Keep Your Senior Involved as Much as Possible
Your elderly family member may still be able to participate in her care far longer than you might have suspected. It’s important to offer her choices and input for as long as it’s possible to do so. This is still her life, and it can make a huge difference for her to feel as if you’re validating her feelings and her opinions.
Consider Alzheimer’s Home Care
One big source of help that you might overlook is Alzheimer’s home care. This specific type of home care offers you assistance from professional caregivers who are well-versed in the needs of families dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. You’ll have real help that takes the complications of life with Alzheimer’s disease into account. Just knowing you’re not alone can make such a big difference.
Remember to Take Care of Your Own Needs
As your senior’s family caregiver, it’s vital that you’re taking the best possible care of your own needs as well. It’s just as important for you to get plenty of sleep, rest, and nutrition as it is for you to make sure your senior is getting those things. Being able to lean on support from home care providers that understand your elderly family member’s needs can help you to take respite time when you need it most.
Your loved one is still going to have good days and bad days, but hopefully, it will be easier to manage those off days when you and she have the tools to support those needs. As your senior’s needs continue to change, Alzheimer’s home care can adjust as well to keep being as supportive as possible.
