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| How to Care for Families of Alzheimer's Disease Patients
How to Care for Families of Alzheimer's Disease Patients
by Susan Berg
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Overview
Maintaining the health and stamina of caregiving family members of Alzheimer's disease patients is critical in keeping the highest level of functioning for the person with Alzheimer's disease. Caregivers may burn out if they do not have enough knowledge of the disease, lack a plan for care, do not take time for themselves and cannot to control the behavior and mood of their loved one with Alzheimer's disease.
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Step 1
Get Google news alerts, and other information on the Internet about the latest developments in Alzheimer's disease care and treatment.
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Step 2
Read books about other Alzheimer's disease caregivers' advice and experiences.
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Step 3
Attend workshops and conferences about Alzheimer's disease. Many have an adult day care option.
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Step 4
Consider taking Alzheimer's caregiver skills training. Caring for an Alzheimer's disease patient at home requires special expertise that may be new to you and other family caregivers. Training programs teach skills in how to handle loved ones with Alzheimer's disease. These skills minimize frustration, because you learn what to expect and how to deal with difficult behaviors and mood swings.
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Step 5
Join a support group. Support groups are safe places where family members and caregivers talk about their feelings, get moral and emotional support, find out useful information, and speak with people who can relate to their stress.
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Step 6
Participate in individual and family counseling, A study reported in the August 2006 issue of "Neurology" said that effective programs of counseling and participation in support groups could yield considerable benefits for caregivers, patients with Alzheimer disease, and society.
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Step 7
Send your loved one with Alzheimer's disease to an adult day care program. They provide you with some time to yourself and give the family member with Alzheimer's disease a great place to have fun while keeping his mind and body active.
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Step 8
Consider respite care. Respite care provides you with a planned period of relief from the difficult responsibilities of caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease.
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- Plan ahead for future financial and legal matters.
Prepare for medical emergencies.
- Plan ahead for future financial and legal matters.
- Prepare for medical emergencies.
- Recognize the warning signs of caregiver burnout.
- Recognize the warning signs of caregiver burnout.
