How to Treat an Older Parent Living with Alzheimer’s

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Treating an Aging Parent Living with Alzheimer’s in Edmonton, AB

The discovery that your senior loved one has Alzheimer’s disease may provide many answers to the questions you’ve had about his or her behavior over the past several weeks or months. However, you’ve also likely found that you now have even more questions than ever before about how to help your loved one get the right kind of treatment. When your loved one prefers to age in place, you can use these strategies to provide compassionate care that allows him or her to thrive.

Take a People-First Approach

Your loved one is more than just a diagnosis. Your parent has lived an entire life that has shaped the person he or she has become and deserves to be treated with respect. Always take the viewpoint that your loved one is a valuable person who just happens to have Alzheimer’s disease. This approach may help you remember to speak about your loved one’s other accomplishments to other people and include him or her in conversations and decisions that affect his or her life.

Build a Strong Support Network

You should never try to treat a senior with Alzheimer’s disease at home by yourself. Trying to do it all leads to caregiver burnout. Your loved one will also eventually need more help than you can provide on your own. Treat your loved one with kindness by talking to him or her about the people you can both reach out to for help. Suggest bringing in a professional caregiver when your loved one needs care you can’t provide, such as help with bathing or overnight care.

One of the most important things to consider is whether and when to hire a professional caregiver for your loved one. Families looking for top-rated in-home care providers can reach out to Home Care Assistance. From respite care to specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care, there are many ways we can make life easier for seniors and their loved ones.

Prioritize Health and Safety

Many of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease could cause your loved one to get sick or injured if the proper precautions aren’t taken. Taking care of your loved one’s health can also slow the progression of the disease. Your care plan should include strategies to prevent things such as accidents around the home. Your parent may also need assistance with remembering when to eat and exercise. Make sure these aspects of your loved one’s health are included in the care plan.

Work on Memory Retention Every Day

Your loved one should practice memory skills each day to retain his or her cognitive abilities. Do puzzles together and explore brain training apps. You can also help your loved one recall special moments by looking at photographs and preparing a memory box.

A professional caregiver with experience in Alzheimer’s care can be an outstanding resource when it comes to cognitive exercises for your loved one. Families who need help caring for a senior loved one can turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of Edmonton homecare services. Services available in our customizable care plans include meal prep, mental and social stimulation, assistance with personal hygiene tasks, and much more.

Provide Social Opportunities

As your loved one’s Alzheimer’s disease advances, you may need to help with planning social activities to prevent him or her from becoming isolated. For instance, your loved one may forget about important dates, such as an upcoming birthday party, and a simple reminder helps him or her attend. You may also need to arrange for social visits to keep your loved one stimulated. Invite a family member over for brunch, or you can have a professional companion visit on a weekly basis to help your loved one enjoy a change of pace.

Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors to manage without assistance, and it can be just as challenging for families who don’t have experience in providing Alzheimer’s care. Edmonton Home Care Assistance provides Alzheimer’s care seniors and their families can depend on. Our proprietary Cognitive Therapeutics Method was designed to help seniors with Alzheimer’s and other memory-related conditions live happier and healthier lives. If your loved one needs help with the challenges of aging, call one of our compassionate Care Managers today at (780) 490-7337.

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