Dementia can severely impact the life and behavior of the person who needs to deal with the condition. While dementia is a general medical term, Alzheimer’s disease is a specific brain disease and a kind of dementia. More than six million people in the USA need to deal with the disease. If your family member has Alzheimer’s disease, they will need all the support you can offer. With enough support, they will be able to live well. Your journey can start with a simple gesture of offering your help in the first place. This tip and more will help you to support your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.
Offer Your Help
The first step you can take to support someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be pretty straightforward. With the significant difference that the disease made to their life, they might be shy to actually ask for help when they need it. Therefore, you should take the initiative into your own hands and see if there is anything you can do for them. Try to be as sensitive and understanding as possible. After all, it is not easy to live with such a condition, and they might need more assistance.
Turn To Professionals
To support your loved one and ensure that they are safe at all times, you can seek out professional help. You will be able to rest assured that they have support available at all times and are in safe hands. Companies such as SeniorCare Homes offer senior care in Overland Park, KS, and have the capacity to care for people with dementia, memory loss, and Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases. Your loved one will have many opportunities to socialize, and they will be able to receive compassion and help anytime they need it.
Encourage Them To Stay Social
You should always make sure that your loved one does not feel isolated. Try to encourage them to return to the hobbies they have always enjoyed. Perhaps you can do some activity together and spend more time in each other’s company. You might also help them to join a social event or activity that they might like. It is also important that you always engage them in a conversation. By including them in activities and conversations, they will feel less lonely and might be more willing to approach you for help in the future.
Tailor Your Approach To Their Communication Skills
When you are talking to a person who is affected by Alzheimer’s disease, you should try to keep things simple and talk about one topic at a time. Try to keep eye contact so they know that you are listening to them and want to engage in a conversation. Include humor and jokes in the conversation to help them focus on something different. If they do not respond to you immediately, be patient and wait until they feel comfortable. Remember to reassure them that you are there to help them and keep them company. Keep the conversation light, do not pressure them, and be patient to ensure they are as comfortable as possible.
