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MANAGING EXPECTATIONS: ALZHEIMER’S CARE

Caregivers are typically warned by the physicians of their loved ones that Alzheimer’s will result in a number of physical, emotional and cognitive changes, however individuals do not often accept the hard reality until they actually occur.

However, it is important that they attempt to learn the results in advance so they can appropriately cope. Caregivers should expect that their care recipient may exhibit confusion, worry and anxiety, preoccupation with location or home, obsession with money, fear, frustration or anger, paranoia and catastrophic reactions.

While it can be heartbreaking and challenging to see someone you love struggle with these affects of the disease, there are a few things that you can do in order to help provide for a smooth transition and limit the amount of stress that occurs on both sides.

Attempt to define your loved one’s feelings, assess the behaviors that cause them and consider what can be done in order to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future. Also plan and prepare activities that you can participate in together, which can increase your bond, distract from undesirable behavior and provide them a source of enjoyment.

If you do have any concerns about what an individual with Alzheimer’s may be going through, please do ensure that you take it up with his/her physician as soon as possible so that appropriate treatment or medications can be provided if necessary.

A family caregiver, Leslie, who is a single mother caring for a young daughter as well as her 91 year old grandmother living in Dallas, has begun spreading awareness about Alzheimer’s disease after a scary situation occurred with her own grandmother, who has been suffering from the disease for a number of years.

Leslie discusses how she determined that further assistance would be required in order to safely and effectively care for her ailing loved one, “Because my grandmother is at my Dallas home alone during the day, I come home over my lunch hour to check on her.

Grandmother has been living with me for three years, but still thinks she is visiting. At first, she was quite independent and resisted any kind of help, saying she could do everything on her one. One day I discovered that she had gone into the back yard, locked the door behind her and spent the afternoon sitting in the sun.

The temperature reached 100 degrees that day, and Grandmother had not eaten or drank anything all day. This made me realize that for her safety and well-being, she shouldn’t be alone anymore.” So, after this occurred, Leslie sought help from a professional, non-medical care organization to look after her grandmother during the hours when she was at work or occupied with her daughter.

For me, this was a wakeup call; I had been caring part time for my own elderly mother, who was only in the early stages of Alzheimer’s for a number of months. Not only did Leslie’s situation remind me that I wasn’t alone, but I knew that I needed to further educate myself about the disease and seek support.

I found a local support group for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s, where on a regular basis they reminded us that we aren’t alone; that in fact, 80% of caregivers of Alzheimer’s are family members. This group has provided me an outlet to talk about the challenges and stresses of dealing with a relative who suffers from Alzheimer’s, and I know now that I really don’t have to go it alone.

Home Instead Senior Care – (972) 239-3934.

There are 4.5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, and many of these individuals require care 24/7 due to the progression of the disease; care is most often provided by a family caregiver, usually an adult child or spouse.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can be physically demanding and emotionally trying since the individual’s personality may change drastically, or they may become physically or verbally abusive to those around them.

Tips for Caregivers

1. Be prepared & learn about the disease – read about the disease and its affects so you are prepared for how it may progress

2. Exercise patience – remember not to take their behavior personally, they’re not trying to make your frustrated or angry; it’s a direct result of the disease

3. Avoid correcting – if they are confused about a person or situation, avoid correcting them to limit frustration; instead, ask simple questions about their statements and involve them in conversation

4. Encourage independence – while your care recipient may not be capable of doing everything self sufficiently, you can prompt them to begin tasks on their own but with you available to step in should they need assistance

5. Seek support – you don’t have to do it alone, have family friends, or a caregiving organization step in to give you a break. Also consider joining a support group for caregivers of individuals with dementia/Alzheimer’s as it can be helpful to talk to someone who understands what you’re going through

6. Use resources – there are professionals who can assist you with the legal factors of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s; such as making senior care decisions, learning about elder law issues and Power of Attorney, asset management and creating a will

7. Get professional assistance – having a professional caregiver assist with everyday tasks, can give you the chance to spend more quality time with your loved one

8. Eliminate distractions – too much aural and visual stimulation can be overwhelming to someone with Alzheimer’s, try to maintain a quiet, comfortable environment whenever possible

9. Know how to communicate – speak slowly and clearly and control your pitch and tone

10. Use positive body language – individuals with Alzheimer’s are sensitive to physical signs; try not to demonstrate tension in your body to avoid causing anxiety

What is Dementia?

Dementia is more than just memory lapses, which we all experience from time to time, it is caused by actual changes in brain function which can dramatically alter memory, personality and behavior. Dementia is not always permanent and can be reversed; causes can include vitamin deficiencies, poor nutrition, reactions to medication, or thyroid problems. However, if dementia is a result of mini strokes or Alzheimer’s disease, the affects are permanent.

Characteristics of Dementia

• Repetition of questions
• Disorientation, even when in familiar surroundings
• Decline in personal hygiene or nutrition
• Poor sense of time
• Inability to recognize known people

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s results from the death of numerous brain cells due to a deterioration to the nerve cells in the brain from a build up of plaques and tangles. Doctors have been unable to determine why this occurs, and unfortunately, no cure has been discovered to date.

An individual with Alzheimer’s can at times be opinionated and challenging to care for. While caring for a loved one with the disease can be incredibly rewarding, it can also be stressful.

Here are a few tips to help make caregiving for someone with Alzheimer’s a little bit easier.

• Maintain consistency – establish a regular schedule and routine. Often there is a time of day when people with Alzheimer’s are at their best level of functioning and most agreeable; schedule the tasks that are most challenging for this time. All other tasks should occur at the same time each day, because routines are less confusing for people with Alzheimer’s. Don’t hesitate to record and post your daily schedule somewhere in the home to help your care recipient remember.

• Be flexible – while routines are important, a person’s ability to function does decline as the Alzheimer’s progresses so it is important for a caregiver to be adaptable and make adjustments that are appropriate for the capabilities for the patient.

• Relax standards and allow independence – caregivers should allow their loved one to make their own decisions and complete day-to-days tasks as much as possible and without assistance to help with self-esteem. Try not to worry so much about how things should be done, and try to be supportive. If necessary, there may be a back door method of intervening. For example, a parent may have a favorite outfit he/she likes to wear daily; allow this selection but purchase identical pieces of clothing to allow for washing.

• Safety First – because Alzheimer’s impairs good judgment, there is a greater risk of falls or injuries in the home. Avoid throw rugs or extension cords where the person may walk; install handrails on stairways and in bathrooms; purchase bathroom safety equipment for ease of bathing; install locks where medicines are stored to ensure you have control over what they are taking; hide hats and coats if they have the tendency to wander; install nightlights around the home; lower the height of the bed to reduce falls.

Dallas Home Instead Senior Care – (972) 239-3934.

 We offer the following tips to help Dallas seniors sleep well:

Maintain a sleep schedule with consistent sleeping and waking hours.

Don’t consume caffeinated beverages and foods after 2 p.m.

Eat a light dinner earlier in the evening to help prevent restless sleep.

Get rid of unnecessary light in the bedroom. Even light from a digital clock or TV can disrupt sleep cycles, so try turning the clock away from the bed and refrain from falling asleep with the TV on.

Exercise for 30 to 40 minutes per day, three or four days each week.  This will help promote a more restful sleep.

Do not take long naps during the day if you have trouble falling asleep at night.

Most Dallas Seniors who face unrestful nights may need to know the signs of sleep disorders:

• excessive snoring,
• frequent waking through the night,
• morning headaches,
• being tired but having trouble falling asleep,
• loss of appetite, 
• not feeling rested in the morning.

HealthDay News reports.

FALL SAFETY CHECKLIST FOR SENIORS LIVING AT HOME IN DALLAS

Check condition of stairs (both inside and outside) for:

• Missing or broken steps
• Missing or loose railings
• Items left on steps
• Inadequate lighting
• Warped wood planks

Inside the home:

• Turned up rug edges  
• Keep walkways and aisles clear of obstacles
• Keep drawers closed
• Clean up spills right away
• Avoid running
• Walk carefully if you are in a hurry
• Avoid walking on slippery surfaces; walk with a sliding motion if a slippery surface must be crossed
• Wear shoes with non-skid soles and flat heels
• Step around, not over, obstructions (move obstructions when possible)
• Pay attention to where you’re going and what might be in your way
• Use railings when climbing up or down stairs
• Keep things in their proper places and put things away after use
• Dispose of trash promptly and properly
• Keep areas that are being cleaned or repaired blocked off and marked
• Make sure lighting is adequate
• Don’t leave cords stretched across the floor
• Don’t carry a load you can’t see over – especially when going up or down stairs

*Information provided by Care West Insurance Company.

It’s no secret that falls are common place with older adults. Many falls happen simply due to the aging process.  Dizziness, gait and balance disturbance, generalized weakness, environmental hazards, confusion, visual impairments and underlying medical conditions common in old age can cause falls in older adults. Older adults can sometimes suffer these problems because of the types of medications they are prescribed.

Senior clients aren’t the only ones susceptible to falls. Family Caregivers are also at risk. In these cases, it’s often a matter of simply not paying attention to the surroundings or working in an unsafe manner when a fall occurs.

Wearing improper shoes, trying to move around obstructions in a walkway or on stairs, being tired or mentally distracted, and working in poor lighting conditions can also lead a client to fall.

There are basic housekeeping and safety “Dos and Don’ts” that owners should perform regularly to ensure safety and help eliminate falls.

Startling Facts about Falls*

• Falls kill more than 12,000 people a year; of these falls, about 1,200 occur at work.
• Falls are the biggest cause of accidental death, after traffic accidents.
• Falls are the most common accident occurring at home.
• 33,000 people are disabled every year from falling on stairs.
• Many people receive lesser injuries, including strains, sprains and broken bones from falls.
• Fall-related accidents keep people out of work and can result in hefty medical bills.
• Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for both males and females 75 years and older.

These are startling facts for any business owner but are even more alarming for the senior care industry.  Almost every fall-related risk listed above can be found in the work performed by a Home Instead Senior Care® business.

In the Home Instead Senior Care Insurance Program, administered by Lockton Risk Services, 256 claims have been attributed to falling, totaling nearly 3.5 million dollars. In addition, nearly half of all claims in the program are as a result of slips and falls.

Helping Dallas Elders remain safely at home – Home Instead Senior Care Dallas – (972) 239-3834.