According to the Alzheimer’s Association, approximately 150,000 Arizonians ages 65 and older have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
In some cases, seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia are being cared for in their home by a family member.
Kimberly Akers, owner and certified senior advisor at the local Amada Senior Care, offers the following tips that caregivers can incorporate to help their loved one stay safely at home.
1. Home environment. Seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia have a challenging time when the environment is “busy” and loud. Thus, limit distractions and create a positive, bright environment that helps set a calming mood.
2. Positive interactions. Well-intentioned family members often want their loved one to understand the reality of their diagnosis. Unfortunately, that may not be accomplished due to neurological interactions in the brain. One way to positively interact is if a loved one believes the sky is purple, then talk about the beauty of the purple sky. This is not harmful to the individual or putting that individual at a safety risk.
3. Routines. Creating consistent routines will help someone with Alzheimer’s or cognitive impairment to feel safe and secure. For example: wake up, toilet, medications, get dressed, coffee and breakfast in the same order daily and approximately at the same time each day.
4. Narrow choices. One of the strategies Amada Senior Care aides use is narrowing choices. For example, instead of asking, “What do you want for breakfast?” it is better to ask, “Would you like this morning, scrambled eggs or pancakes?” Providing choices still provides independence, but also helps the loved one to emotionally feel safe because much of the problem-solving abilities are not working as they have in the past.