Tips
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If you suspect your parent has Alzheimer's, start an assessment diary. Privately track changes you notice, situations that trigger problems or upset, your parent's reactions to such situations, and how you dealt with them. This information can help you and your parent's doctor, if and when you consu...
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Tiny buttons, zippers, snaps, and hook-and-eye closures can become increasingly more difficult or confusing to manipulate as Alzheimer's progresses. Give your parent gifts of such clothing as pants with elastic waistbands and pull-on tops (without pointing out their easy-on features) to gradually in...
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Whether your parent is bed-bound or up and around a little, look for opportunities to get her body moving. Bathing is a wonderful time for a gentle mini-workout that will get her blood circulating and her joints and muscles working.
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When your parent can no longer bathe without help, his self-esteem can take a big hit. But even small gestures on your part can make a big difference in how he feels. Give your parent as much of a sense of control and independence as he can handle, even if it's nominal. Handing your parent a washclo...
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Sedentary people are prone to developing blood clots, but you can help prevent them by stimulating your parent's circulation. When bathing your parent, stroke in the direction of the heart, particularly on the arms and legs. Using a gentle but firm touch, stroke toward -- rather than away from -- th...
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Take a closer look at a loved one's floors if he or she has dementia. Any irregularities in floor appearance can be perceived as a change in elevation or depth, making his or her gait unsteady. So consider installing tight-weave, wall-to-wall carpeting in a room that now has varying textures or is h...
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Does your parent's Alzheimer's cause her to sometimes choose inappropriate clothes -- a summer coat in the middle of a snowstorm, or a wild color combination that's atypical of her style? Minimize choices by removing all nonseasonal or seldom-worn items from drawers and closets. Explain, if asked, t...
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When you visit a parent with Alzheimer's, play the kinds of music she's always loved. She may lack the wherewithal to put on a CD or tape herself, yet she'll still find her favorite music comforting and a delight.
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Serve meals to someone who has Alzheimer's at a table setting with minimal distractions. You'll reduce both confusion and his odds of overlooking foods. Ideally, use a solid-colored placemat that contrasts with the table color, and a white plate that contrasts with the placemat and allows the food t...
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Replace lightbulbs in rooms that your parent with Alzheimer's uses in the evening with bulbs that have higher-than-usual wattage, to keep the room bright. Shadows created by dimmer bulbs can be disorienting or frightening.
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Wondering if your parent really has Alzheimer's? Talk to as many different people who know her as you can -- neighbors, club friends, her dentist, church members -- to ask if they've noticed any signs. This can be especially enlightening if you live out of town. Most friends are glad, possibly even ...
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If your parent has a tendency to lose things, get in the habit of checking through trash receptacles before taking out the garbage. People with Alzheimer's not only misplace objects easily, they're liable to put them in unexpected places that make no sense -- like the trash.
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Can't figure out what your parent with Alzheimer's is trying to tell you? Don't get angry or frustrated. Rather, smile and apologetically say, "I'm having trouble understanding." That puts the blame on you, not her, and therefore doesn't make her feel criticized or inadequate.
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If you notice your parent losing interest in TV shows she enjoys, the noise, complex plot, rapid scene-cutting, and commercial breaks may simply be too much to follow for someone with Alzheimer's. Try introducing slower-paced nature shows or ball games that don't require following along too closely ...
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Consider losing the word why from your vocabulary. Why? Though it's tempting to ask a parent with Alzheimer's questions like, "Why did you do that?" or "Why don't you like your soup today? You liked it yesterday," she really has no idea why she behaves in many of the ways she does. The disease has l...
