Being an Alzheimer\u2019s caregiver is hard work that requires a lot of knowledge and many skills for getting along and for connecting with the person. Here are some tips to help you out on your caregiving journey:<\/p>\n
1. Don\u2019t Be in Denial<\/strong>: It\u2019s only natural to be in denial when a loved one begins to show signs of dementia, but that only prevents the person from getting a diagnosis, starting treatment and planning for the future.<\/p>\n 2. Don\u2019t Ask, \u201cDo You Remember?\u201d<\/strong> Of course they can\u2019t remember. If they could remember, they wouldn\u2019t be diagnosed with dementia. Asking if they remember some person or event could make them frustrated.<\/p>\n 3. Do Interact With the Person at His or Her Level<\/strong>: You may want to interact with the person the way you always have, but that isn\u2019t going to be possible. Instead, figure out at what age they appear to be behaving, then connect with them at that level.<\/p>\n 4. To Connect With People Who Have Alzheimer\u2019s, Put Something Meaningful in Their Hand:<\/strong> This is a valuable tip provided by Tom and Karen Brenner in their book, You Say Goodbye and We Say Hello: The Montessori Method for Positive Dementia Care<\/em>.<\/a> You may have to experiment some to find out what is meaningful to any specific person.<\/p>\n 5. To Connect With People With Late-Stage Alzheimer\u2019s, Try Introducing Them to Children, Pets, Music or Art: <\/strong> These four activities will often reach people in the late stages of the illness \u2014 even if they hardly talk anymore.<\/p>\n 6. Don\u2019t Argue, Correct or Disagree:<\/strong> You can\u2019t win an argument with a person who has dementia, so don\u2019t even try. Neither should you contradict them. It will make them dig in their heels even more strongly.<\/p>\n 7. Don\u2019t Bring up Topics That May Upset the Person: <\/strong>If you know your loved one will get upset if you talk about politics, for example, don\u2019t start the conversation in the first place. It will probably lead to a battle you don\u2019t want to have.<\/p>\n 8. Do Quickly Change the Subject If the Person Does Get Upset: <\/strong>If the person does get upset one of the best things you can do is redirect their attention to something else, preferably something pleasant.<\/p>\n 9. Don\u2019t Quit Visiting When the Person Doesn\u2019t Know Who You Are<\/strong>: Just because your loved one does not recognize you don’t mean they have no feelings. People with Alzheimer\u2019s may enjoy being visited even if they don\u2019t know precisely who the visitor is.<\/p>\n 10. Do Take Care of Yourself:<\/strong> Being an Alzheimer\u2019s caregiver is hard work. The gold standard book on Alzheimer\u2019s caregiving isn\u2019t entitled The 36-Hour Day<\/em> for nothing. Take good care of yourself for your benefit and for the good of the person for whom you\u2019re caring. You can\u2019t be an effective, compassionate caregiver if you\u2019re exhausted and burned out all the time.<\/p>\n The list of tips for Alzheimer\u2019s caregivers could go on and on, but mastering these 10 will go a long way toward improving the care you provide to your loved one. It will also help improve your own health and well-being.<\/p>\n For more details about Alzheimer\u2019s caregiving, read my book, Come Back Early Today: A Memoir of Love, Alzheimer\u2019s and Joy, and visit my website<\/a>, which contains a wealth of information for Alzheimer\u2019s caregivers.<\/p>\n By Marie Marley (original post can be found at\u00a0http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/marie-marley\/10-critical-tips-for-alzheimers-caregivers_b_3324076.html)<\/em><\/p>\n If you would like more information or education about caregiving or Alzheimer’s Disease, please feel free to call us at 870-881-8969 or email us at kecanright@uams.edu. We AR the caregiving experts!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Being an Alzheimer\u2019s caregiver is hard work that requires a lot of knowledge and many skills for getting along and for connecting with the person. Here are some tips to help you out on your caregiving journey: 1. Don\u2019t Be in Denial: It\u2019s only natural to be in denial when a loved one begins to…<\/p>\n