It is not easy caring for an individual that has Alzheimer's disease whether you the caregiver, are a relative or a professional. No two Alzheimer's patients will develop or experience the disease...

It is not easy caring for an individual that has Alzheimer’s disease whether you the caregiver, are a relative or a professional. No two Alzheimer’s patients will develop or experience the disease in the exact same manner; so caring for those with Alzheimer’s will not be a “cookie cutter” experience. It often happens that there will be more than one individual in a family develop Alzheimer’s and the same family member may end up caring for multiple members with the disease; experiencing different scenarios each time. The duties of the caregiver are difficult and require a great deal of patience. The caregiver needs emotional and physical support as well as many respite breaks in order to remain healthy physically and emotionally while caring for the individual with Alzheimer’s disease.

There are many daily care needs that will increase as the disease progresses. The caregiver must adapt to these needs providing more in depth care as time goes on. The caregiver will need to be able to successfully problem solve, be creative and flexible in providing care and comfort. Care for daily routines include providing safe activities, communicating with the individual with Alzheimer’s, providing nourishing snacks and meals, providing dental care, bathing, dressing and personal grooming needs and seeing to any incontinence episodes. Providing for occurrences of depression, providing opportunities for music, art, and other therapies as the need arises. The caregiver should also be able to track and monitor symptoms and report them to the family members making decisions as well as to the doctor.

The caregiver will need to be able to monitor the individual with Alzheimer’s behaviors, anticipate safety issues, learn how to cope with difficult situations, and be able to seek out additional resources, as they are needed.

Typically family members will assist in caring for the individual who has Alzheimer’s disease in the early stage of the disease and often during the moderate stage too with proper assistance and training. Caregivers always need to have respite from their duties for the benefit of the individual with Alzheimer’s and for their own health needs. Caring for an individual with Alzheimer’s can be physically and emotionally draining.

Once the individual with Alzheimer’s advances from the mild stage into the moderate stage other care settings are often explored that include assisted living, nursing homes, and special Alzheimer care units.

There are many resources that families can find in their communities for help with selecting quality, licensed care facilities. There are also organizations in the United States and other countries that can be of assistance in this most important decision. Just a few examples of those available in the U.S.A., include the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, Assisted Living Federation of America and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman which is a Website: http://www.ltcombudsman.org/

There are many books written on the subject of caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease including:

The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life (3rd Edition) by Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins.

Loving Car for Alzheimer’s Patients: Practical Solutions for Caregivers and their Families by Katie Lovette

Caring for a Loved One With Alzheimer’s Disease: A Christian Perspective by Elizabeth T. Hall

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