Self-care ability and independent consciousness are very important to Alzheimer’s patients. Therefore, when caring for an Alzheimer’s patient, one of the main goals should be to help him accomplish what he can as much as possible.
It is better to divide the task into small steps and write down the method of each step so as to facilitate the patient’s self-reliance.
See if this list can help you.
Wash
Show the patient the steps of brushing your teeth, step by step, slowly, or simply with him. If you want to help him brush, remember to prepare a long handle toothbrush or electric toothbrush with a certain angle.
Encourage female patients to make up for themselves. When she needs help, help her with lipstick and eyeliner.
Male patients should pay special attention to safety when shaving. Do not use manual blades. Electric shavers will be safer.
Take a bath
When taking a bath, soothing music can help patients relax.
Special attention should be paid when entering and leaving the bathtub. It is best to have hand-held shower head, anti-skid bath pad, handrail bar and shower stool fully prepared to prevent patients from falling down during bathing.
When wiping the patient’s body, pay attention to respect his privacy. Proper towel shielding will make the patient not feel embarrassed or shy.
Dress
Make sure your clothes are loose enough to be easy to wear and take off. Shorts with elastic bands and non-slip shoes are good choices. Try to avoid clothes with straps and buckles.
Encourage patients to wear their own clothes. However, according to the order of dressing, help patients to arrange their clothes first, give a hand aside and do a small favor.
If the patient is restless, try to be patient and appease. Handing over a towel for the patient to grasp can help the patient relax and calm down slowly.
Some patients [stubbornly] only want to wear the same clothes, don’t stop him. Just buy some identical clothes and replace them every day.
Eat
Ensure regular meals.
Turn off the TV and radio to ensure a quiet eating environment.
Removing unnecessary things from the dining table, messy things will make patients confused and uncomfortable.
If there are many dishes, serving them one by one will not make patients anxious.
The colors of tables, plates and dishes should be as sharp as possible to facilitate patients to distinguish.
Remind the patient to chew and swallow from time to time. Be patient and let him enjoy the eating time slowly.
When it becomes more and more difficult for him to eat by himself, try some foods that are easy to eat, such as small sandwiches and sliced fruits. When swallowing is difficult, steamed eggs, porridge and milk cereal will be good choices.
Daily activities
Asking patients to do housework helps to increase their self-esteem and self-confidence. You can ask them to help vacuumize, sweep the floor, repair things, sort and stack clothes, or help you read recipes and pass seasonings while you are cooking.
Let’s go out for a walk together every day to exercise, cheer up the mood and improve sleep. If the patient is unable to walk, try fixed bicycle or cushion exercise, which can not only exercise but also ensure safety.
Playing word games, jigsaw puzzles, listening to music, talking about current events or doing flowers and plants can all help thinking and memory.
Accompanying patients with Alzheimer’s disease should be more careful. When the patient is found to be depressed or not interested in a certain activity, timely comfort and inquiry will make the patient feel cared for and cared for.
I hope the above tips can help you somewhat.
In fact, no matter being a what, what really matters to Alzheimer’s patients is the time you spent together and this precious memory. I believe your efforts and companionship can make patients still feel that life is happy and meaningful.