Where can I go for caregiver support and training?
If you'll be a main source of care for your parent, you'll quickly find that caregiver support is essential. In a support group for Alzheimer's caregivers or family members, you can find much-needed encouragement as well as practical information and advice from people with similar experiences and concerns.
Some caregivers also find training that focuses on caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease or dementia very useful. Sessions can cover feeding, dressing, home safety, bathing, and other practical matters. Your parent's doctor may be familiar with a hospital program or organizations that offer seminars or lectures on Alzheimer's care or related topics.
How does this diagnosis impact my parent's overall health?
Alzheimer's disease is a tough diagnosis, but if your parent is elderly, odds are that she has other medical conditions that warrant attention as well. If your parent has osteoporosis, for example, the changes in depth perception caused by Alzheimer's can make her more vulnerable to dangerous falls. Changes in eating patterns, exercise, and mental status can all influence other diseases.
Ask, too, about other common reasons your parent may need medical care and what to look out for. People with Alzheimer's can be vulnerable to urinary tract infections, for example, and may suffer from depression. It's useful for a caregiver to be aware of symptoms of common conditions since your parent may not be able to recognize them or may not bring them to anyone's attention.
What should I do in an emergency?
Many people whose parents develop Alzheimer's have little familiarity with their parent's physicians. Whether your mother is seeing her regular doctor or a new geriatric specialist, you'll want to know how you can reach the doctor (or someone else on his medical team or in his practice) at any time, and what you should do if a problem arises after office hours.
Also establish the best way for you to get your nonemergency questions answered as they arise. Is there a nurse line you can call? When you leave a message for the doctor, how and when will it be answered? Can you email questions?
Can you talk about clinical trials?
After your parent is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, she may receive information about participating in a clinical trial (a research study that tests the effectiveness and safety of a particular therapy on volunteer patients). Ask your parent's doctor what he thinks. It's important to fully understand the benefits and risks involved before participating.
