Tips for Caregivers of People With Alzheimer Disease

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What plans should we make for the future? " пїЅ After your family member is diagnosed with Alzheimer disease, you will need to make plans for his or her: пїЅ пїЅ

Living situation " пїЅ If he or she lives alone, you need to make sure he or she is safe. If he or she cant live alone, you need to make a plan. You might have him or her live at home with help, or move to a nursing home.
Decision-making " пїЅ Early on, your family member should choose a "power of attorney. " пїЅ A power of attorney is someone who can make decisions for him or her when he or she is no longer able to.
Money " пїЅ People have trouble understanding how to manage their money as their disease gets worse. If your family member takes care of his or her own money, you need to check that he or she does it correctly.
Driving " пїЅ If your family member still drives, talk with the doctor about when he or she should stop. The right time to stop is different for each person.

How can I make the home safe? " пїЅ To help keep your family member from getting hurt around the house, you can: пїЅ пїЅ

Keep walkways clear of clutter. If you have loose rugs, remove them or tack them down.
Put a handrail and nonslip mat in the bathtub or shower.
Put child-proof locks on cabinets with dangerous items (such as matches or medicines). You can also put child-proof covers on the stove.

How can I keep my family member from wandering away? " пїЅ To keep him or her from wandering away or getting lost, you can: пїЅ пїЅ

Lock the outside door. If your family member can unlock the door, put another lock on the door that he or she can't reach.
Have him or her wear or carry identification at all times.
Put a system in your home that lets you know when people enter or leave.

How can I make daily activities easier? " пїЅ To make your daily activities easier, you can: пїЅ пїЅ

Schedule appointments, visits, and activities for times of the day when your family member is at his or her best.
Do activities he or she enjoys or can still help with.
Allow extra time for activities or to get where you are going.
Stick to a routine, and avoid new or crowded places.
Use simple words, short sentences, and a calm voice (but don't use "baby talk " пїЅ). When you give directions, give only 1 direction at a time.
Not give him or her too many choices. For example, offer only 2 choices for lunch.
Buy clothes and shoes that are easy to put on and take off.
Remember that it doesn't help to argue. Try to move on to something else.

How can I avoid bladder or bowel accidents? " пїЅ You can avoid accidents by: пїЅ пїЅ

Having your family member use the toilet every few hours.
Not giving him or her drinks before bedtime.

What if my family member isn't eating enough? " пїЅ To get him or her to eat more, you can: пїЅ пїЅ

Give him or her many small meals each day, instead of 3 large ones.
Give him or her high-protein or high-calorie drinks, such as shakes.
Make food easier to eat by putting it in a bowl or cutting it up.

How can I help my family member sleep better at night? " пїЅ To help him or her sleep better at night, you can: пїЅ пїЅ

Not let him or her nap during the day.
Make sure he or she gets enough exercise during the day (but not right before bedtime).
Move bedtime to a later time.

What if my family member's behavior changes suddenly? " пїЅ If his or her behavior changes suddenly, call the doctor or nurse. It could mean that your family member has an infection. That's because symptoms of Alzheimer disease often get worse when people get infections, especially bladder or lung infections. пїЅ пїЅ

What if I am having a hard time? " пїЅ If you are having a hard time, let the doctor or nurse know so that he or she can find ways to get you help. Taking care of a person with Alzheimer disease is a tough job, and it usually gets harder as the disease gets worse. Don't feel bad or guilty about asking for help. Also, make sure to ask for help if your family member hurts or threatens you. пїЅ пїЅ

One way to get help is to take a break from caregiving. You can hire an aide to help you bathe, dress, or feed your family member. You can also find an adult day care program for your family member to go to during the day. пїЅ пїЅ

Another way to get help is to join a support group for caregivers of people with Alzheimer disease. пїЅ пїЅ

The Alzheimer's Association has a lot of information for caregivers. Their Web site is www.alz.org. Their toll-free phone number in the US is 1-800-272-3900. пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 16421 Version 3.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you.The use of UpToDate content is governed by the UpToDate Terms of Use. пїЅ пїЅ2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ

Tips for Caregivers of People With Alzheimer Disease

The Basics

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

Copyright