As people age, some will begin to experience problems that are typical to people in their golden years, such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other diseases that affect an individual’s memory. It can be very depressing to watch a loved one, like a parent, lose precious memories of people and things that they hold dear. This article will deal with how to help a parent who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, especially in the latter stages of the disease. The whole process of taking care of someone with this issue can be a nightmare, and any helpful information will make things easier for the caregiver.
Services to Help Aging People with Alzheimer’s Disease
One problem that people who have relatives with Alzheimer’s disease face is finding a place to help take care of them when regular caregivers are unavailable. Oftentimes, an aging parent’s child has a family of his or her own and his or her work schedule will not allow for the proper care of the parent. A center that provides Senior Rehabilitation Services offers care for aging clients and their families. The memory care service that is provided by such centers ensures that clients get around-the-clock attention that is critically required by those with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory issues.
How to Help a Parent with Alzheimer’s Disease
A person who has Parkinson’s disease, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other memory issues will appreciate a person who will continue to carry on conversations with him or her. It will help the person to retain some of the former memories that may be slipping away into the unknown. Engaging the family member in activities, such as walking or playing games with him or her, will also help Alzheimer’s patients. Patience is a must when dealing with relatives or anyone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, as some times, the person may have a meltdown.
More Ways to Help Parents with Alzheimer’s Disease
It is important to keep the person with Alzheimer’s disease feeling like he or she is still in control as much as possible. For example, giving the person a couple of outfits to choose from when selecting what to wear will help the person to feel like he or she is in control. It is also important to minimize distractions for the person with Alzheimer’s disease when he or she is eating or in a conversation. This will help the person to stay focused and perhaps retain the knowledge of some things. Another thing to keep in mind is to limit the naps taken by those with Alzheimer’s disease to avoid them getting confused between day and night.
Final Thoughts about Helping Parents with Alzheimer’s Disease
In the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease, patients will often revert to a childlike state, choosing to hold on to dolls like they did when they were children. They may become withdrawn and not want to talk much as they seem to fade away. The patient’s child or other family members can try to keep the loved one as active as possible for as long as possible. The relatives should also attempt to spend as much time with their loved one as possible to keep the memories of them alive in the Alzheimer’s patient’s mind.
