The following is a Sponsored Resource. The sponsor of this content has sole editorial control.

Tips for Alzheimer's Disease Homecare

Medical treatment for Alzheimer's disease is key to helping slow progression of symptoms as long as possible with the person in your life who has this disease. However, there's more you can do to help achieve this goal - and most of it is simply an extension of what you'd normally do to help ensure the person's health and well-being.

Communicate Clearly

  • Choose simple words and speak in short sentences with a calm tone of voice.
  • Allow enough time for a response, and be careful not to interrupt.
  • Try to frame questions or instructions positively, and speak slowly and clearly.
  • Maintain eye contact and use positive, friendly facial expressions.

back to top

Choose Simple, Engaging Activities:

  • Try to base activities on skills the person already has, instead of introducing something new.
  • Help him or her get started, and break down the activity into several smaller tasks. Don't expect too much.
  • Be on the lookout for signs of frustration or agitation. When this happens, gently distract the person's attention to something else.
  • Try to continue activities you both enjoy.

back to top

Energize and Enrich Daily Life

Music
  • Find familiar and enjoyable music, like a "Greatest Hits" CD from a favorite singer or a collection of songs from a fondly-remembered time in the person's life.
  • Link music with memories by going through old photographs while listening to favorite tunes.
  • Encourage movement and interaction - like clapping, dancing, or singing.
Art
  • Talk together while you're creating. Discuss the painting, sculpture, or other artwork the person is making, and try to reminisce or create a story using it.
  • Allow plenty of time to complete the project. However, when the artist says a project is done - it is!
Pets
  • Consider bringing a dog, cat, or other pet into the life of the person with Alzheimer's disease. Animal companionship can reduce depression and boost self-esteem.

back to top

Make Everyday Life as Easy as Possible for Both of You

Bathing
  • Try to develop a routine. Plan the bath at a time of day when the person is most calm.
  • Exercise patience and respect. Be as gentle as possible. At each step, tell the person what you are going to do before you do it.
  • Draw the bath and have everything ready before you begin.
  • Use a handheld showerhead, a shower bench, grab bars, and nonskid mats to minimize safety risks. Never leave the person with Alzheimer's disease unattended.
Dressing
  • Set a specific time each day for the person to get dressed.
  • Choose clothing that is comfortable, easy to care for, and easy to manage - e.g., Velcro closures. Arrange the clothes in the order they should be put on.
  • Encourage self-dressing, and plan extra time so there's no rush.
Eating
  • Create a quiet, soothing mealtime atmosphere. Allow plenty of time for eating.
  • Provide a limited number of food choices, and serve small portions.
  • Serve soft foods such as cottage cheese and applesauce. Grind or puree foods, or cut them into bite-size pieces. Serve thicker liquid foods, too, like shakes or smoothies.
  • Make sure the food isn't too hot or too cold. The person may not be able to tell before eating or drinking it.
  • If using eating utensils is a problem, substitute finger foods. Try using a bowl instead of a plate.
As often as possible, serve the following foods to the person with Alzheimer's disease.
  • Dark-skinned fruits and vegetables: kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, red bell peppers, eggplant, prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries, and cherries
  • Cold-water fish: halibut, mackerel, salmon, trout, and tuna
  • Mono- and polyunsaturated fats: olive oil, grapeseed oil, and walnut oil
  • Nuts: almonds, pecans, and walnuts

What about supplements? Special care must be taken in considering whether to use these products, since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated their effectiveness, safety, purity, and side effects. If the person with Alzheimer's disease wants to take any supplements, be sure to talk with the doctor about it first.

back to top

Stay Active Together

The Alzheimer's Association explains that effective, appropriate activities should:

  • Bring meaning, purpose, joy, and hope to the person's life.
  • Use the person's skills and abilities.
  • Give the person a sense of being normal and engaged with life - for example, visiting friends, playing cards, or cleaning house.
  • Involve family and friends.
  • Be dignified and appropriate for adults.
  • Be enjoyable.

As you plan activities, keep the following in mind:

  • Be flexible - ready to experiment and try new things within the limits of the person's skills and abilities.
  • Focus on having fun, not getting something done.
  • Consider the time of day. For example, the person with Alzheimer's disease may have more patience for crossword puzzles in the morning.
  • Don't overdo it. Allow for rest breaks between activities.

back to top

Understand the Person's Medications...

  • Ask the doctor the names of each medication, the reason(s) why he or she prescribed it, the dosage and frequency of taking it, the side effects it may cause, whether there's any potential for drug interaction(s) to occur, and what you should do about them if they do.
  • Then, at home, be alert to respond to these and other problems, such as overmedication, that may arise.
  • NEVER leave taking medication up to the person with Alzheimer's disease...
  • ...and ALWAYS check that it's been swallowed.
  • Keep the medication storage cabinet or drawer locked, and don't leave the person with Alzheimer's disease alone with medication containers.
...And Be Sure They're Taken as Directed
  • Make taking medication routine. As much as possible, give it in the same way and at the same time(s) every day.
  • What if he or she won't take it? Stop, then try again later.
  • For convenience and reassurance that you are giving each dose of medication on schedule, use a compartmented "pill box" with labels for when you should give the doses - e.g., "Monday," "Tuesday," or "Monday am," "Monday pm." Or, separate medications into single-dose cups or envelopes, or check off each dose on a calendar.
  • If swallowing pills is a problem, ask the doctor if the medication is available in liquid or another form that will be easier for the person to take.
  • You may be able to crush a medication and mix it with food for easier administration. But ask the doctor or pharmacist first! Some medications should NOT be crushed because they won't work properly in that form. Some may even be unsafe to take in this way.
  • Emergencies happen, so be prepared: Have handy the names and telephone numbers of pharmacies and other places that deliver medications, as well as those that are open at night and on Sunday.

back to top

Keep Stress Under Control

  • Guided imagery and visualization. Using a recording or your imagination, create a scene in your mind that helps you relax, such as, "The beach is so beautiful at sunset; I'm relaxing as I watch the flame-tipped waves rolling in over the darkening sands." Ask the person about a beautiful scene he or she remembers.
  • Deep breathing. As you focus on deep breathing - typically through your nose - your respiration rate slows, and your body relaxes. You could make this a kind of game with the person who has Alzheimer's disease: Who feels most relaxed first?
  • If the stress of caring for the person with Alzheimer's disease starts causing emotional or physical problems for you, talk to your doctor.

back to top

Deal With Depression

  • Physical and mental activity can help lift the dark cloud. Try some of the exercise and social and intellectual activities discussed earlier.
  • Support groups and professional counseling are often available for depressed people with symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
  • Ask the doctor whether he or she would recommend an antidepressant such as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

back to top

For Both of You: Stay Connected With Others Who Can Help

  • In-home services range from "companion" care to skilled care services that meet specific needs of the person with Alzheimer's disease. Agencies and government programs may provide in-home helpers in your community, or you may be able to hire someone through your own connections.
  • In adult day care, often available through community centers or facilities, the person has an opportunity to mix with others and take part in organized activities. Some programs provide meals and transportation as well.
  • Connect with other people caring for family members or friends with Alzheimer's disease. For example, the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org features a "Resources" page that can point you to message boards and live chat. Also available: a toll-free number you can call when you really need to talk to someone who understands (1.800.272.3900).

back to top

As the days pass, do your best to accept the changes that occur in the person you knew before the onset of Alzheimer's disease. When the time comes that he or she needs care you aren't able to provide alone, look into the help available from in-home services and residential care.

Listen in to the Experts

You don't have to feel isolated – or retreat to denial. Resources are out there at the personal, local and national level. Dr. Eugene Du Boff explains how to get help from family and friends, at the doctor's office and from support groups.

Series moderated by: Warachal E. Faison, MD, Assistant Director of the Institute of Research Minority Training on Mental Health and Aging (IRMMA) and Clinical Director of the Alzheimer's Research and Clinical Programs at the Medical University of South Carolina.

More Expert Audio