Useful Tips For Caring For a Loved One With Alzheimer’s

Stretching over 118 miles, Long Island is among New York’s most beautiful places. Long Island features a bunch of attractions that make life worthwhile. For instance, other than having brought forth celebrities like Mariah Carrey and Jerry Seinfeld, Long Island is also home to the Hamptons. 

While it has a handful of attractions, it can be difficult to enjoy what it has to offer if your loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. That’s why you should consider Alzheimer’s home care services in Long Island. Follow these tips to cope with the challenges of taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s:

1. Take Time to Learn About Alzheimer’s

Educating yourself about Alzheimer’s and how it will progress each dawn will help you prepare financially, emotionally, and physically for the challenges ahead. It will also help you maintain a realistic attitude and an element of control as the caregiver. 

In a nutshell, educating yourself about the disease as soon as possible will help take the sting out of the challenges you will encounter and make the process easier for you.  

2. Actively Empathize

As Alzheimer’s progresses, your loved one will start forgetting things. For instance, they will forget who you are and ask you who you are more times than you can recall. They might become delusional, start wandering and might even experience incontinence.

All these are the effects of the disease, and at times it can become frustrating to you because you are only human. But remember, no one wants to be in such a position. Therefore, actively ask yourself how you’d like to be treated if you suddenly found yourself in the same shoes. Keep in mind, with each day comes new challenges when you are taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s. Being compassionate and empathetic is the key to offering them the best care.

3. Accept Help

If your loved one has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, it is essential to note that while the effects may not be that serious right now, they’ll worsen. Eventually, your loved one will require round-the-clock care because leaving them alone will only put them in more danger. Therefore, train yourself to accept help even before it gets to this stage, so it can be easier to let someone else help in the future.  

In other words, develop a personal support plan as early as now, so you don’t end up neglecting yourself when the effects of Alzheimer’s erode the skills and abilities of your loved one even more. For instance, reach out to family and friends to help you out. Even better, consider seeking professional Alzheimer’s home care services in Long Island. This way, you’ll get used to the idea of allowing someone else to step in whenever you need to attend to your personal needs and responsibilities and not feel guilty.  

4. Create Routines

Creating a routine for your loved one as soon as you learn of his diagnosis will help develop a sense of structure and familiarity for them. It will give a sense of consistency to them, which will be both beneficial to you and them. 

Therefore, create a routine and, while at it, ensure that you include activities and visitors. Take them to places they like to visit in Long Island, such as Lavender by the bay and Catapano farms. Plan for them to meet up with their friends at least once or twice a month. 

Watching your loved one forget who you are or become delusional because of Alzheimer’s and dementia is nothing short of heartbreaking.  But with the steps discussed above, taking care of them can be easier. However, ensure that you don’t end up neglecting yourself by enlisting Alzheimer’s home care services in Long Island.