Sunday, 27 May 2007
People with Alzheimer's disease have special needs and offer special challenges to those who care for them. Alzheimer's Disease often forces a family to restructure their lives. While each person is different, the following list offers some tips to make everyday living a little more manageable.
Home Safety
As the person's symptoms worsen, even common household items and furnishings can become dangerous.
* Get rid of the "clutter" around the house, such as piles of papers, throw rugs etc. Also, furniture should be simple and clear pathways should be established.
* Put locks or install child-proof latches on any cabinets that contain potentially harmful items such as guns, liquor, matches, household cleaners, medicines, knives, etc.
* Install handrails throughout the house, especially around the bathtub and toilet, since coordination and balance may deteriorate.
* If the person you are caring for wanders, put locks on doors leading outside. Also, place an identification tag in the person's wallet or purse or on a necklace in case he or she does wander off and become lost.
* Remove the door locks that are operated from the inside-- as in bedrooms and bathrooms-- so that the person will not lock himself or herself in.
Eating
Eating sometimes can become difficult for a person with Alzheimer's disease. He or she might forget to eat, or forget that he or she has already eaten. For instance, sometimes people forget what to eat and consume a bag of candy for lunch.
* Make eating easier by having ready-to-eat food (sandwiches, soup) or by enlisting the help of a meal-delivery service, like Meals on Wheels.
* If the person you are caring for constantly eats, have some low-calorie foods around such as carrots, celery, crackers, or butter-less popcorn. Then if he or she wants to eat, these low-calorie, healthy snacks can be given without much hassle.
* If the person you are caring for does not eat, do the opposite and provide high-calorie snacks such as a milkshake, cheese and crackers, or a diet-supplement shake.
part two. Something about Personal Hygiene, Sleep, Advice for Caregivers
Home SafetyAs the person's symptoms worsen, even common household items and furnishings can become dangerous.
* Get rid of the "clutter" around the house, such as piles of papers, throw rugs etc. Also, furniture should be simple and clear pathways should be established.
* Put locks or install child-proof latches on any cabinets that contain potentially harmful items such as guns, liquor, matches, household cleaners, medicines, knives, etc.
* Install handrails throughout the house, especially around the bathtub and toilet, since coordination and balance may deteriorate.
* If the person you are caring for wanders, put locks on doors leading outside. Also, place an identification tag in the person's wallet or purse or on a necklace in case he or she does wander off and become lost.
* Remove the door locks that are operated from the inside-- as in bedrooms and bathrooms-- so that the person will not lock himself or herself in.
Eating
Eating sometimes can become difficult for a person with Alzheimer's disease. He or she might forget to eat, or forget that he or she has already eaten. For instance, sometimes people forget what to eat and consume a bag of candy for lunch.
* Make eating easier by having ready-to-eat food (sandwiches, soup) or by enlisting the help of a meal-delivery service, like Meals on Wheels.
* If the person you are caring for constantly eats, have some low-calorie foods around such as carrots, celery, crackers, or butter-less popcorn. Then if he or she wants to eat, these low-calorie, healthy snacks can be given without much hassle.
* If the person you are caring for does not eat, do the opposite and provide high-calorie snacks such as a milkshake, cheese and crackers, or a diet-supplement shake.
part two. Something about Personal Hygiene, Sleep, Advice for Caregivers
Labels: disease staging, Pre-Symptom, test
