| By :
Mark Etinger
Alzheimer's can be a very tough disease to deal with, especially when you are the one on the outside looking in. It's hard to understand what the other person is going through and deal with the symptoms. But you can prepare yourself and give better Alzheimers care if you know how to handle it. The onset of Alzheimers is often slow and detected early on when symptoms are minimal. Now is the time in Alzheimers care to prepare for future needs. You should consider where and with whom the person is going to live. Will you be taking them into your own home or putting them in a senior care home? You also have to decide who is going to make healthcare and financial decisions for the person when they no longer have the ability to do so for themselves. The most important thing you can do during Alzheimers care is to have a routine. Set up a daily, step by step schedule that both you and the person you are caring for can follow. It will give them a sense of structure, something familiar for them which is very important. It can help orient the person especially when they are having a momentary memory lapse. Once in a while you can add something different into the routine, like visitors or other activities. Take it slow, you don't want to cause a sensory overload. Planning time outdoors can be a great idea, like taking a walk to the park. Doing things that involve the senses is all stimulating as well, like singing songs or dancing. Communication is key. As the Alzheimer's progresses you'll notice that they way they communicate may be more difficult. Try to keep things simple for them. Call a person by their name and ask questions one at a time, waiting for a response before moving on to the next. You want to give them time to process it all. Make eye contact and pay attention to how your body language is coming off. Frustration can easily be picked up by your loved one and it can make them more flustered themselves. A lot of patience is going to go into Alzheimers care and you should be ready for the stress that can come with it. As the disease progresses you may want to look into long term care or a senior caregiver who can help you with some of the tasks. You don't have to take on all the responsibility alone!
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