Caring for a senior loved one living with Alzheimer’s can be a strenuous job, but it can also allow you to build lasting memories and make life easier for your loved one. Regardless of the situation, you’ll need to remain patient, try your hardest, and make choices that benefit your loved one’s mental and physical wellbeing. Below are tips that can make the role less stressful and help you provide better care for your parent.
Boost Independence
Developing Alzheimer’s doesn’t prevent your loved one from taking on some daily activities, especially during the early stages of the disease. As a family caregiver, it’s beneficial for your stress levels and your loved one’s health to encourage independence. In some situations, you’ll need to help out with tasks, but if your parent is able to take on the action alone, allow him or her to do so while you observe. Boosting your loved one’s independence could slow the progression of the disease by keeping him or her physically and mentally active.
One of the first things to consider is whether and when to hire a professional caregiver for your loved one. Families looking for top-rated at-home care providers can reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care. From respite care to specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care, there are many ways we can make life easier for seniors and their loved ones.
Remain Calm
When you’re upset, your loved one could mimic your demeanor, escalating the situation. For example, if your parent forgets who someone is and becomes frightened, he or she could lash out verbally and physically. While this behavior isn’t acceptable or to be ignored, you’ll need to stay calm. If you react negatively, your loved one could reciprocate and continue to yell, scream, or even hit you. It may be a good idea to walk out of the room until your loved one has calmed down. To further ease the situation, you can also incorporate soothing distractions, such as playing music.
A trained Alzheimer’s caregiver can be a wonderful source of information and support for family caregivers. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care. Reston families can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
Don’t Lecture
Pointing out what your loved one has done incorrectly could make an instance worse and prevent him or her from trying again later. When your loved one with Alzheimer’s forgets something small, make sure to listen thoroughly. Always allow your parent to complete sentences, phrases, and stories. After your loved one is done, kindly correct him or her by continuing the conversation but mentioning the correct name of a person, place, or object. However, make sure it’s done in a subtle and encouraging tone instead of lecturing and belittling your parent.
Simplify Eating Habits
As the disease progresses, your loved one will have difficulty completing various tasks, including eating. It will be more challenging to chew and swallow food. Memory loss could cause your loved one to forget some of the most important actions, including chewing and swallowing. However, continuing to eat well-balanced meals full of nutrients is necessary for your loved one’s health, which is why you should make it less complicated to eat. Make meals with soft foods, or mix smoothies and puree foods.
Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors to manage without assistance, and it can be just as challenging for families who don’t have experience in providing Alzheimer’s care. Reston
Assisting Hands Home Care provides Alzheimer’s care seniors and their families can depend on. Our caregivers help seniors with Alzheimer’s and other memory-related conditions live happier and healthier lives. To hire a professionally trained caregiver for your loved one, call us today.
