Few tips regarding domiciliary care for alzheimer’s patient

Caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease at home is a difficult task. Alzheimer's symptoms grow worse over time, and there is no way to predict how quickly the disease will progress or exactly how behavior will change. Managing the basic activities of daily living -- eating, talking, sleeping, finding things to do - can be hard for both the person with Alzheimer's and the caregiver, especially as the disease becomes more severe. Here are some tips that may help you cope.

Communication for alzheimer's patient

Trying to communicate with a person who has Alzheimer's can be a challenge. Both understanding and being understood may be difficult. Choose simple words and short sentences and use a gentle, calm tone of voice. Minimize distractions and noise, such as the television or radio, to help the person focus. Call the person by name, making sure you have his or her attention before speaking. Allow enough time for a response. Be careful not to interrupts on what you are saying If the person with Alzheimer's is struggling to find a word or communicate a thought, gently try to provide the word he or she is looking for. Try to frame questions and instructions in a positive way.

Feeding alzheimer's patient

All the time, while others have to be encouraged to maintain a good diet. Ensure a quiet, calm atmosphere for eating. Limiting noise and other distractions may help the person focus on the meal. Provide a limited number of choices of food and serve small portions. Use straws or cups with lids to make drinking easier. Substitute finger foods if the person struggles with using utensils. Using a bowl instead of a plate also may help. For the exhausted caregiver, sleep can't come too soon. For many people with AD, however, the approach of nighttime may be a difficult time. Many people with AD become restless, agitated, and irritable around dinnertime, oftenreferred to as "sundowning" syndrome. Getting the person to go to bed and stay there may require some advance planning.

Sleeping for alzheimer's patient

Encourage exercise during the day and limit daytime napping, but make sure that the person gets adequate rest during the day because fatigue can increase the likelihood of late afternoon restlessness. Set a quiet, peaceful tone in the evening to encourage sleep. Keep the lights dim, eliminate loud noises, even play soothing music if the person seems to enjoy it. Try to keep bedtime at a similar time each evening. Developing a bedtime routine may help. Restrict access to caffeine late in the day. Use night lights in the bedroom, hall, and bathroom if the darkness is frightening or disorienting.

Bathing for alzheimer's patient

Plan the bath or shower for the time of day when the person is most calm and agreeable. Be consistent. Try to develop a routine. Respect the fact that bathing is scary and uncomfortable for some people with Alzheimer's disease. Be gentle and respectful. Be patient and calm. Tell the person what you are going to do, step by step, and allow him or her to do as much as possible. Prepare in advance. Make sure you have everything you need ready and in the bathroom before beginning. Draw the bath ahead of time. Be sensitive to the temperature. Warm up the room beforehand if necessary and keep extra towels and a robe nearby. Test the water temperature before beginning the bath or shower. Minimize safety risks by using a hand¬held showerhead, shower bench, grab bars, and non-skid bathmats. Never leave the person alone in the bath or shower.

Dresses for alzheimer's patient

Allow the person to choose what he or she will wear from a limited selection of outfits. If he or she has a favorite outfit, consider buying several identical sets. Arrange the clothes in the order they are to be put on to help the person move through the process. For someone who has Alzheimer's, getting dressed presents a series of challenges choosing what to wear, getting some clothes off and other clothes on, and struggling with buttons and zippers. Provide clear, step-by-step instructions if the person needs prompting. Choose clothing that is comfortable, easy to get on and off, and easy to care for. Elastic waists and Velcro enclosures minimize struggles with buttons and zippers. Watch for signs of physical pain due to pinching from tight clothes or pricking from a safety pin. Sometimes the person may act out when they are in pain and can't tell you what is bothering them.

Bowel & bladder care

Have a routine for taking the person to the bathroom and stick to it as closely as possible. For example, take the person to the bathroom every 3 hours or so during the day. Don't wait for the person to ask. As the disease progresses, many persons with Alzheimer's begin to experience incontinence, or the inability to control their bladder and/or bowels: Incontinence can be upsetting to the person and difficult for the caregiver. Sometimes incontinence is due to physical illness, so be sure to discuss it with the person's doctor. Watch for signs that the person may have to go to the bathroom, such as restlessness or pulling at clothes. Respond quickly. To help prevent nighttime accidents, limit certain types of fluids -- such as those with caffeine -- in the evening. If you are going to be out with the person, plan ahead. Know where restrooms are located and have the person wear simple, easy-to-remove clothing. Have an extra set of clothing along in case of an accident.

Activities for alzheimer's patient

Don't expect too much. Simple activities often are best, especially when they use current abilities. Help the person get started on an activity. Break the activity down into small steps and praise the person for each step he or she completes. What to do all day? Finding activities that the person with Alzheimer's can do and is interested in can be a challenge. Building on existing skills generally works better than trying to teach something new. Determine the time of day and place where this type of activity would work best. Be realistic in your expectations. Build slowly, perhaps just starting with a short walk around the yard, for example, before progressing to a walk around the block. Be aware of any discomfort or signs of overexertion.Talk to the person's doctor if this happens.

Hallucinations & delusions

As the disease progresses, a person with Alzheimer's disease may experience hallucinations and/or delusions. Hallucinations are when the person sees, hears, smells, tastes, or feels something that is not there. Delusions are false beliefs that the person thinks are real. Sometimes hallucinations and delusions are signs of physical illness. Keep track of what the person is experiencing and discuss it with the doctor. Avoid arguing with the person about what he or she sees or hears. Try to respond to the feelings he or she is expressing. Comfort the person if he or she is afraid. Try to distract the person to another topic or activity. Sometimes moving to another room or going outside for a walk may help. Turn off the television set when violent or disturbing programs are on. The person with Alzheimer's may not be able to distinguish television programming from reality. Make sure the person is safe and does not have access to anything he or she could use to harm anyone. Discuss with the doctor any illness the person has had or medicines he or she is taking. Sometimes an illness or medicine may cause hallucinations or delusions.

Home safety

Caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease often have to look at their homes through new eyes to identify and correct safety risks. Creating a safe environment can prevent many stressful and dangerous situations. Install secure locks on all outside windows and doors, especially if the person is prone to wandering. Remove the locks on bathroom doors to prevent the person from accidentally locking himself or herself in. Use childproof latches on kitchen cabinets and anyplace where cleaning supplies or other chemicals are kept. Label medications and keep them locked up. Also make sure knives, lighters and matches, and guns are secured and clutter. Remove scatter rugs and anything else that might contribute to a fall. Make sure lighting is good both inside and outside the home. Be alert to and address kitchen-safety issues, such as the person forgetting to turn off the stove after out of reach. Keep the house free from cooking. Consider installing an automatic shut-off switch on the stove to prevent burns or fire. Be sure to secure or put away anything that could cause danger, both inside and outside the home. (Reprint)

Few tips regarding domiciliary care for alzheimers patient

Caring for a person with Alzheimers disease at home is a difficult task. Alzheimers symptoms grow worse over time, and there is no way to predict how quickly the disease will progress or exactly how behavior will change. Managing the basic activities of daily living -- eating, talking, sleeping, finding things to do - can be hard for both the person with Alzheimers and the caregiver, especially as the disease becomes more severe. Here are some tips that may help you cope. Communication for alzheimers patient Trying to communicate with a person who has Alzheimers can be a challenge. Both understanding and being understood may be difficult. Choose simple words and short sentences and use a gentle, calm tone of voice. Minimize distractions and noise, such as the television or radio, to help the person focus. Call the person by name, making sure you have his or her attention before speaking. Allow enough time for a response. Be careful not to interrupts on what you are saying If the person with Alzheimers is struggling to find a word or communicate a thought, gently try to provide the word he or she is looking for. Try to frame questions and instructions in a positive way. Feeding alzheimers patient All the time, while others have to be encouraged to maintain a good diet. Ensure a quiet, calm atmosphere for eating. Limiting noise and other distractions may help the person focus on the meal. Provide a limited number of choices of food and serve small portions. Use straws or cups with lids to make drinking easier. Substitute finger foods if the person struggles with using utensils. Using a bowl instead of a plate also may help. For the exhausted caregiver, sleep cant come too soon. For many people with AD, however, the approach of nighttime may be a difficult time. Many people with AD become restless, agitated, and irritable around dinnertime, oftenreferred to as sundowning syndrome. Getting the person to go to bed and stay there may require some advance planning. Sleeping for alzheimers patient Encourage exercise during the day and limit daytime napping, but make sure that the person gets adequate rest during the day because fatigue can increase the likelihood of late afternoon restlessness. Set a quiet, peaceful tone in the evening to encourage sleep. Keep the lights dim, eliminate loud noises, even play soothing music if the person seems to enjoy it. Try to keep bedtime at a similar time each evening. Developing a bedtime routine may help. Restrict access to caffeine late in the day. Use night lights in the bedroom, hall, and bathroom if the darkness is frightening or disorienting. Bathing for alzheimers patient Plan the bath or shower for the time of day when the person is most calm and agreeable. Be consistent. Try to develop a routine. Respect the fact that bathing is scary and uncomfortable for some people with Alzheimers disease. Be gentle and respectful. Be patient and calm. Tell the person what you are going to do, step by step, and allow him or her to do as much as possible. Prepare in advance. Make sure you have everything you need ready and in the bathroom before beginning. Draw the bath ahead of time. Be sensitive to the temperature. Warm up the room beforehand if necessary and keep extra towels and a robe nearby. Test the water temperature before beginning the bath or shower. Minimize safety risks by using a handheld showerhead, shower bench, grab bars, and non-skid bathmats. Never leave the person alone in the bath or shower. Dresses for alzheimers patient Allow the person to choose what he or she will wear from a limited selection of outfits. If he or she has a favorite outfit, consider buying several identical sets. Arrange the clothes in the order they are to be put on to help the person move through the process. For someone who has Alzheimers, getting dressed presents a series of challenges choosing what to wear, getting some clothes off and other clothes on, and struggling with buttons and zippers. Provide clear, step-by-step instructions if the person needs prompting. Choose clothing that is comfortable, easy to get on and off, and easy to care for. Elastic waists and Velcro enclosures minimize struggles with buttons and zippers. Watch for signs of physical pain due to pinching from tight clothes or pricking from a safety pin. Sometimes the person may act out when they are in pain and cant tell you what is bothering them. Bowel bladder care Have a routine for taking the person to the bathroom and stick to it as closely as possible. For example, take the person to the bathroom every 3 hours or so during the day. Dont wait for the person to ask. As the disease progresses, many persons with Alzheimers begin to experience incontinence, or the inability to control their bladder and/or bowels: Incontinence can be upsetting to the person and difficult for the caregiver. Sometimes incontinence is due to physical illness, so be sure to discuss it with the persons doctor. Watch for signs that the person may have to go to the bathroom, such as restlessness or pulling at clothes. Respond quickly. To help prevent nighttime accidents, limit certain types of fluids -- such as those with caffeine -- in the evening. If you are going to be out with the person, plan ahead. Know where restrooms are located and have the person wear simple, easy-to-remove clothing. Have an extra set of clothing along in case of an accident. Activities for alzheimers patient Dont expect too much. Simple activities often are best, especially when they use current abilities. Help the person get started on an activity. Break the activity down into small steps and praise the person for each step he or she completes. What to do all day? Finding activities that the person with Alzheimers can do and is interested in can be a challenge. Building on existing skills generally works better than trying to teach something new. Determine the time of day and place where this type of activity would work best. Be realistic in your expectations. Build slowly, perhaps just starting with a short walk around the yard, for example, before progressing to a walk around the block. Be aware of any discomfort or signs of overexertion.Talk to the persons doctor if this happens. Hallucinations delusions As the disease progresses, a person with Alzheimers disease may experience hallucinations and/or delusions. Hallucinations are when the person sees, hears, smells, tastes, or feels something that is not there. Delusions are false beliefs that the person thinks are real. Sometimes hallucinations and delusions are signs of physical illness. Keep track of what the person is experiencing and discuss it with the doctor. Avoid arguing with the person about what he or she sees or hears. Try to respond to the feelings he or she is expressing. Comfort the person if he or she is afraid. Try to distract the person to another topic or activity. Sometimes moving to another room or going outside for a walk may help. Turn off the television set when violent or disturbing programs are on. The person with Alzheimers may not be able to distinguish television programming from reality. Make sure the person is safe and does not have access to anything he or she could use to harm anyone. Discuss with the doctor any illness the person has had or medicines he or she is taking. Sometimes an illness or medicine may cause hallucinations or delusions. Home safety Caregivers of people with Alzheimers disease often have to look at their homes through new eyes to identify and correct safety risks. Creating a safe environment can prevent many stressful and dangerous situations. Install secure locks on all outside windows and doors, especially if the person is prone to wandering. Remove the locks on bathroom doors to prevent the person from accidentally locking himself or herself in. Use childproof latches on kitchen cabinets and anyplace where cleaning supplies or other chemicals are kept. Label medications and keep them locked up. Also make sure knives, lighters and matches, and guns are secured and clutter. Remove scatter rugs and anything else that might contribute to a fall. Make sure lighting is good both inside and outside the home. Be alert to and address kitchen-safety issues, such as the person forgetting to turn off the stove after out of reach. Keep the house free from cooking. Consider installing an automatic shut-off switch on the stove to prevent burns or fire. Be sure to secure or put away anything that could cause danger, both inside and outside the home. (Reprint)