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A few days ago I was at Walgreens to pick up a few prescriptions. While I was waiting I noticed a pamphlet written by AARP in cooperation with Walgreens. The title of the pamphlet is Managing Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Here is an exerpt from the pamphlet:
For caregivers: How to help
- Develop a routine
- Let your loved one make decsions about activities, food, clothing and other choices for as long as possible. Let him or her be independent, even if tasks take more time or are not done well. When the person needs help, offer it gently.
- Keep dangerous items out of reach. Lock up knives, scissors, medicines, cleaning supplies, power tools and other dangerous items.
- Don’t let your loved one drive if he or she cannot do so safely
- Get medical alert jewelry for the person so you can be contacted if he or she wanders away. If possible, provide a safe place for wandering, such as an enclosed yard or garden.
- Understand the disease. Know that your loved one’s behavior may change. He or she may strike out or become easily angered. Don’t argue. Let the person know you understand and try to focus the person’s attention on something else. Use short and simple words and sentences.
- Your loved one will need more care as the condition gets worse. In time, he or she may need help to eat, get dressed or use the bathroom. You may be able to give this care at home, but the time may come when a nursing home is the best choice.
Think about yourself
- It can be sad and scary to care for a loved one who has dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. It can leave you feeling drained. Be sure to take care of yourself and give yourself a break. Ask family members to share the load, or get other help.
- You’re not alone. Many people have loved ones with these conditions. Ask your doctor about local support groups, or search the Internet for online support groups
As I read the brochure I found it interesting that it reminds the caregiver to take care of herself. The reason I was getting prescriptions filled is because I let a cyst go untreated too long and it got infected. Just like many other caregivers, I stay on top of Gladys’ care but tend to neglect my own.
7 People have left comments on this post
Sep 6, 2008 - 03:09:57Hi Valerie – this is a good point. I’ve known many caregivers neglect their health and wind up even more poorly than the person they’re looking after, or worse.
Cath,
Thanks for coming back. It’s good to have repeat visitors.
Hi Valerie,
My sister just took her husband on a cruise to Alaska but spent the entire time taking more care of him because his routine had been altered and I know she ended up not having any fun. I felt so bad for her. Unfortantly I wasn’t on the trip to help. Its so important that the caregivers can make arrangements for help so that they can have some down time too.
Our neighbor had Alzheimer’s and her granddaughter took care of her. A year after her grandmother died, the granddaughter died of cancer. She spent almost her entire 40′s looking after her grandmother, who declined very very slowly. She never married and no children.
Really really sad. It is just imperative to have a life of your own no matter what. I still can’t think about that tragic family without feeling very bad.
Hi Valerie, my mother in law is just the same. She spent so much time making sure her mum was OK that she totally neglected herself and became ill with lack of sleep and worry. Very wise words indeed.
@Hattie – Several years ago when my husband was extremely ill, I sat in the hospital waiting room while he was having an MRI. I met a lady who was 70 years old who was also waiting for her husband. They had saved all their married years so they could travel when he retired. Unfortunately, he had a stroke a few months after he retired. By the time I met her, they had spent all of their savings on medical expenses.
What I gleaned from this is to take advantages of life’s adventures as it is affordable. Don’t save everything waiting for that big retirement. It may never happen.
We put off travelling except to see our grandkids for two years because of the needs of my husband’s mother. She died six months ago. But now I am too allergy-prone and susceptible to flus to be a good traveler any more. I also have to watch my diet because of pre-diabetes.
But…I have decided to travel anyway! To heck with it. There are things I want to see before I check out.
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