The Best Ways for Family Members to Support a Senior Parent with Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s Care in Spokane Valley WA
If you have a senior parent that has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s who wants to remain living independently you may wonder how you can support them. Seniors who have Alzheimer’s can continue living in the familiar home where they want to stay in many cases. But, they need some additional support at home to make sure they are safe.
Alzheimer’s care at home is a fantastic way to help your senior parent live the way they want to live but do it safely. Alzheimer’s care is specialty care just for seniors who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The care providers that provide Alzheimer’s care are trained to work with seniors who have Alzheimer’s. They know how to communicate effectively with seniors who have Alzheimer’s, and how to keep them safe at home.
In addition to getting Alzheimer’s care for a senior parent that wants to continue living at home you can also support them by:
Making the House as Safe as Possible
Evaluate the senior’s living environment for safety. Remove tripping hazards, install grab bars, and secure cabinets with potentially harmful items. You may need to remove locks from interior doors or install new ones on exterior doors. It’s also a good idea to put up cameras that allow you to keep an eye on them.
Memory Aids
Provide memory aids like a whiteboard with important reminders, a calendar, and labeled cabinets. These visual cues can help with day-to-day activities. Label dresser drawers so seniors will know what clothing is in what drawer. You may even want to post arrows and signs pointing to the kitchen, the bathroom, and the bedroom in case your senior parent needs direction.
Legal and Financial Planning
Work with an attorney to set up legal documents like a durable power of attorney and a Living Will. These documents ensure that the senior’s financial and legal matters are handled appropriately.
Be Patient and Flexible
Alzheimer’s can lead to mood swings and unpredictable behavior. It’s essential to remain patient, empathetic, and flexible in your interactions with the senior.
Get Rid of Hazards
Secure the home against potential dangers. Lock away harmful substances like medications, cleaning supplies, laundry soap, or outdoor use items like pesticides so that your senior parent won’t get into them.
Sensory Support
Pay attention to sensory needs. Soft music, familiar scents, and tactile objects can provide comfort and reassurance. Make sure your senior parent has lots of puzzles, books, games, and other items that can support their cognitive health.
Install Supportive Technology
Voice activated assistants can be very useful for seniors with Alzheimer’s. So can things like smart plugs, which turn any appliance into a smart appliance. By plugging appliances into smart plugs you or your senior parent or a caregiver can control the appliance with your voice. So if your senior parent leaves the coffee pot on you can turn it off using an app or using your voice if you’re in the house.
Be a Good Listener
Sometimes, the senior may want to express their thoughts or concerns. Be a good listener, and let them express themselves, even if their thoughts seem disorganized.
Stay in Touch
Stay in regular contact with the senior, even if you can’t be there in person. Frequent phone calls or video chats can provide emotional support.
Maintain Dignity
Treat the senior with respect and preserve their dignity. Avoid speaking to them as if they were a child or talking about their condition as if they’re not present.
Plan for Emergencies
Unfortunately, emergencies do happen. Falls, wandering, or health issues can mean an emergency situation that will have to be dealt with fast. Develop an emergency plan with contact information for family members, neighbors, and healthcare providers in case of unexpected situations.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Alzheimer’s Care in Spokane Valley, WA, please contact the caring staff at Angel Senior Care today at (509) 326-4357
After watching our own family members struggle with the need for compassionate home care, we determined that we could be that caring solution and provide home care in Spokane – not just for our family, but for seniors throughout Spokane County. We like to think of our clients as our extended family, and we treat them with the same dignity and respect our own grandparents and parents would expect to receive.
Our feeling is that while all of our caregivers need to be qualified in terms of certifications and experience, our goal is to hire those that are unique in their drive to show service and respect to the elderly. We hire only those caregivers who share our purpose, passion, and commitment.
Between the two of us, we have more than 30 years’ combined experience in the health care industry and are committed to providing the best Spokane senior care. We have utilized that experience to create a care-centered business model that puts the health and well being of our clients first.
When you entrust the care of your loved one to the experience and commitment of Angel Senior Care, you can rest easy knowing they are looked after, both physically and emotionally.
Sincerely, Vaughn & Donna Young
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