When a parent or other elderly loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the natural reaction for many is to want to take them in and take on their care. Many of us, however well-intentioned, do not quite know what to expect or know how to make our homes more friendly for those with this common form of dementia. Here is a primer, presented by Psychminds.
What is Alzheimer’s?
If your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, they have been diagnosed with the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer’s is a brain illness that negatively affects memory, behavior, and overall brain function (problem solving, logic, speech, etc.). Alzheimer’s patients get progressively worse over time, but the disease is not completely linear in its onset and progression. This means your loved one may experience “good days” and “bad days” for years as the disease progresses. Alzheimer’s can be treated and the progress can be slowed, but it has no cure.
What can you expect?
Taking on a loved one with Alzheimer’s is not easy. You can expect your loved one to experience extreme mood and personality changes. They will likely get worse and worse at retaining new information. They will experience confusion about their place in both time and space (where am I?, who are you?, and when is it?). You can expect the disease to eventually affect more than memory, as Alzheimer’s patients often have trouble talking, eating, and walking as it progresses.
How to prep your home
As mentioned before, Alzheimer’s begins to affect one’s physical capabilities as well as mental faculties. This means that your home needs to be set up to reduce the risk of danger at every turn – from the kitchen to the bedroom to the bathroom and hallways. Below are some tips on how to manage your household:
- Declutter: a designated cleanup bin may help you keep pathways clear, which is vital in preventing trips and falls.
- Install extra stability in certain areas of your home, such as: grab rails in the bathrooms and inside the shower, extra solid railing around the stairs, and non-slip mats in the bath and kitchen.
- Limit potential dangers, such as scalding: turn your home’s water heater down to a cooler average temperature.
- Limit potential fire hazards: install safety knobs that prevent your loved one from accidentally turning on a gas range or oven.
- Mayo Clinic suggests removing door locks to prevent your loved one from accidentally locking themselves in a room.
Now, think about all the things that a confused person could get their hands on and harm themselves with. Lock up and remove ammunition from any weapons (or potential weapons) you have in the home. Put locks on cabinets and drawers that contain knives, lighters, or toxic chemicals. You may feel like you are “childproofing” your home and it may make you feel guilty – but don’t. It is vital to remove any and all potential dangers (even if they seem unlikely to happen or minor in scale).
In the end, it is going to be a tough road. You have to go into it knowing that some days will be better than others, but it is never easy. You can still enjoy your time with your loved one – even as they suffer from this illness. But you need to know what to expect and how to set your home life up for success. Don’t forget to take care of yourself as well. Self-care for caregivers is vital, as the task is truly draining at times. Overall, however, caregiving is rewarding. That’s the main takeaway.
Written by April Meyers
Content Contributor
www.mindbodyhealthsolution.com
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
