Alzheimer's support: How to help someone with Alzheimer's Disease
Michalis 'BIG Mike' Kotzakolios


Defined Tag: Alzheimer's Support.

Finding out that someone you love has Alzheimer's Disease can be an overwhelming experience. As a caretaker, is there anything you can do to help your loved one cope with the diagnosis? Fortunately, you can be a valuable source of Alzheimer's support as they adjust to the new realities of their lives. Whether your loved one lives at home or moves to a facility where they can be more closely monitored, here are some tips for helping them through the stages of the illness:

1. Listen

No matter what stage of Alzheimer's your loved one is in, they can always benefit from sharing their thoughts and feelings with someone who cares. Whether they want to tell you stories from days gone by or discuss the ramifications of having Alzheimer's, giving them one a green light to talk about whatever is on their mind helps in two ways. First, it offers them an opportunity to practice their communication skills. Alzheimer's Disease sometimes compromises language skills, so verbalizing thoughts and feelings is a mental exercise which can be of benefit. Secondly, letting them know that you want to communicate helps them continue to feel connected to you at a time when they may begin to feel isolated.

2. Encourage communication

While listening is probably the most important part of communicating with your loved one, by responding to them in an appropriate manner, you can also help them explore and express their feelings on a deeper level. If Alzheimer's has not had an adverse affect your loved one's verbal skills and they can communicate without becoming frustrated, you can ask open-ended questions designed to get them to really think about their responses. On the other hand, if you see your loved one struggling to find words or if they appear to become frustrated while trying to speak, you can ask simple yes and no questions to help them get their message across.

3. Expect change

Alzheimer's is a progressive, degenerative disease which affects everyone differently. Sometimes the only thing caregivers can rely on is that there is nothing they can rely on. Your loved one's needs, emotions and independence will change from week to week, sometimes even from hour to hour. Someone who seems to be having an unusually good day in the morning can have an unusually rough evening on the same day. Be prepared for changes and seek out reliable medical advice so you're not caught off guard when they occur.

4. Be there

No one can dispute that it's difficult to watch someone you care about lose their sense of self or independence. But as hard as it is for caregivers, it is even more difficult for people with Alzheimer's to see the people they've counted on suddenly disappear. If distance or other commitments make it hard to keep in touch, try to remain in contact by phone, but be careful not to avoid the person you care about.

5. Be prepared to forgive

As Alzheimer's progresses and your loved one gives up more of their freedom, they may become frustrated. Sometimes the frustration is vented in the presence of those closest to them, but it doesn't mean they're angry at you. While these expressions may be difficult to cope with, remember that your loved one is going through a difficult journey and is facing many end-of-life issues. Any outburst they might have will have little or nothing to do with you and will likely be forgotten by them in the future. Learn to expect such challenges and overcome them with love and understanding.

As you provide Alzheimer's support for your loved one, remember that it is also important for you to continue taking care of yourself. Adequate sleep and a good diet will are essential when dealing with any kind of stress and taking proper care of yourself will go a long way to help you take better care of your loved one.

BIG Mike is a well known author, developer and Adsense expert as well as the owner of Niche Maniacs - a unique Adsense Marketing System designed to build long-term passive income streams from Adsense, Amazon, YPN, Chitika and other PPC services.