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February 9, 2012

Alzheimer's Disease Patient Caregiver Guide

Caring for an Alzheimer's Disease Patient

How to Evaluate a Nursing Home

Over 1.6 million Americans are residents of more than 18,000 nursing homes located in this country. Nursing homes can either be permanent residences for people who are too frail or sick to live at home or temporary facilities for use during the recovery period from illness or injury. When a family member needs a nursing home, it can often be challenging to find the right facility. The following questions can help you evaluate nursing homes to find the best fit for your situation.

  1. First of all, is the nursing home Medicare- or Medicaid-certified? Does it provide the level of care required for your family member? Is the facility accepting new residents?
  1. Is the location of the facility convenient for family members and friends?
  1. What is your impression of the physical environment? Is the facility clean, well-lit, with safe and comfortable furnishings? Is the home smoke-free, or is smoking restricted to certain areas? Is the building free of unpleasant smells? Are the surroundings peaceful and quiet?
  1. Is there a licensed physician on staff? Is the doctor there every day? If not, is he or she easily reachable in case of need? Can residents see their personal doctors if they wish or are they required to be treated by the house physician?
  1. Does the nursing home perform background checks on staff members?

Read more tips on how to choose a nursing home »

Tips for Caregivers of a Person with Alzheimer's Disease

Caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease at home is a difficult task and can become overwhelming at times. Each day brings new challenges as the caregiver copes with changing levels of ability and new patterns of behavior. Research has shown that caregivers themselves often are at increased risk for depression and illness, especially if they do not receive adequate support from family, friends, and the community. One of the biggest struggles caregivers face is dealing with the difficult behaviors of the person they are caring for. Dressing, bathing, eating—basic activities of daily living—often become difficult to manage for both the person with Alzheimer's and the caregiver. Having a plan for getting through the day can help caregivers cope. Many caregivers have found it helpful to use strategies for dealing with difficult behaviors and stressful situations. Through trial and error you will find that some of the following tips work, while others do not. Each person with Alzheimer's is unique and will respond differently, and each person changes over the course of the disease. Do the best you can, and remind yourself to take breaks.

Dealing with the Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease

Finding out that a loved one has Alzheimer's disease can be stressful, frightening, and overwhelming. As you begin to take stock of the situation, here are some tips that may help:

  • Ask the doctor any questions you have about Alzheimer's disease. Find out what treatments might work best to alleviate symptoms or address behavior problems.

  • Contact organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association and the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center for more information about the disease, treatment options, and caregiving resources. Some community groups may offer classes to teach caregiving, problem-solving, and management skills. See "For More Information" below to contact the ADEAR Center and a variety of other helpful organizations.

  • Find a support group where you can share your feelings and concerns. Members of support groups often have helpful ideas or know of useful resources based on their own experiences. Online support groups make it possible for caregivers to receive support without having to leave home. The Alzheimer's Association and other organizations sponsor support groups.

  • Study your day to see if you can develop a routine that makes things go more smoothly. If there are times of day when the person with Alzheimer's is less confused or more cooperative, plan your routine to make the most of those moments. Keep in mind that the way the person functions may change from day to day, so try to be flexible and adapt your routine as needed.

  • Consider using adult day care or respite services to ease the day-to-day demands of caregiving. These services allow you to have a break while knowing that the person with Alzheimer's is being well cared for.

  • Begin to plan for the future. This may include getting financial and legal documents in order, investigating long-term care options, and determining what services are covered by health insurance and Medicare.



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Suggested Reading on Alzheimer's Disease Patient Caregiver Guide by Our Doctors

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Alzheimer's Disease Patient Caregiver Guide

What is stress?

Stress is simply a fact of nature -- forces from the inside or outside world affecting the individual. The individual responds to stress in ways that affect the individual as well as their environment. Because of the overabundance of stress in our modern lives, we usually think of stress as a negative experience, but from a biological point of view, stress can be a neutral, negative, or positive experience.

In general, stress is related to both external and internal factors. External factors include the physical environment, including your job, your relationships with others, your home, and all the situations, challenges, difficulties, and expectations you're confronted with on a daily basis. Internal factors determine your body's ability to respond to, and deal with, the external stress-inducing factors. Internal factors which influence your ability to handle stress include your nutritional status, overall health and fitness levels, emotional w...

Read the Stress article »







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