Alzheimer’s is a disease that can be frightening because it slowly kills off brain cells and ultimately ends up drastically affecting an individual’s memory, behaviors, and thoughts. Alzheimer’s come in different levels of severity: mild, moderate, and severe. So, it is essential (as a caregiver) to know how severe the person’s condition is that you’re caring for so that you can help them in the areas that they need most and still provide them with a sense of independence in the areas that they can do themselves.
Some signs that someone is suffering from Alzheimer’s include: (mild to severe)
- Trouble concentrating
- Trouble sleeping
- Forgetting specific words, names, or recent events
- Difficulty writing, following instructions, or problem-solving
- Frequently getting lost
- Changes in personality
- Trouble recognizing people close to them
- Having a hard time completing daily mundane tasks like getting dressed
- Not being able to hold urine or feces until they find a bathroom
- Unable to conversate
- Become unaware of their surroundings/environment
- Unable to sit up, walk, or eat on their own
As it can be seen from the above list, the symptoms and effects of Alzheimer’s can be equally scary for the person experiencing it but also for close friends and loved ones. There are also more behavioral symptoms such as aggression and psychological symptoms such as depression or paranoia.
Some of the best ways to care for someone suffering from Alzheimer’s is to create a daily routine for them (make necessary changes on a gradual basis), pre-plan their daily activities for times during the day when they feel their best (like baking, exercising, playing board games, or chores), encourage open communication (offer positive body language, ask one question at a time, use their name frequently in conversation, and stay calm), prepare healthy meals at the same times each day, boost their self-esteem by helping them with their appearance, and always keep them safe however you can.
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