Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease may cause seniors to experience a variety of changes and challenges they need help managing. Oftentimes, seniors with Alzheimer’s disease rely on Alzheimer’s home care experts to help them with an array of tasks. For this reason, it’s important for Alzheimer’s caregivers to have the following attributes.
1. Empathy
As your senior loved one’s memory begins to decrease, he or she may have difficulty remembering simple things, places, and people and doing daily activities such as bathing, cleaning, and cooking. This change can be difficult for seniors, especially during the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, which is why caregivers should have empathy. If an Alzheimer’s caregiver puts him or herself in your loved one’s place, the caregiver may understand what your loved one is going through and provide better care.
2. Attentiveness
Alzheimer’s caregivers need to pay close attention to the seniors they care for to prevent them from wandering or getting lost. Being attentive allows caregivers to provide immediate care to seniors who have fallen down the stairs or have become restless and fallen out of bed. Hiring an attentive caregiver ensures your loved one will get immediate care, which could prevent more severe health issues.
There are many reasons seniors might need assistance at home. Some may require regular mental stimulation due to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, while others might only need part-time assistance with exercise and basic household tasks. Assisting Hands Home Care is a leading elder care provider. Families rely on our expertly trained caregivers to help their senior loved ones maintain a high quality of life.
3. Quick Thinking
It’s common for seniors with Alzheimer’s to hallucinate and become paranoid, and they may refuse to go into certain rooms and places or eat various foods due to the paranoia. In these instances, a caregiver will need to use quick thinking skills to distract and redirect the senior. Redirecting is an effective technique that can calm the senior down and prevent him or her from lashing out and harming others.
4. Good Communication Skills
Seniors living with Alzheimer’s disease often jumble words, have difficulty concentrating, and repeat words and phrases without meaning. However, caregivers need to take their time and listen to their loved ones and develop simple methods of communication. Making it easier for seniors to communicate can help them stay active instead of isolating themselves from conversations and activities.
5. Patience
Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease experience many behavioral changes, including agitation, anger, and disorientation. It’s important for Alzheimer’s caregivers to remain patient and calm at all times. Doing so can help seniors remain calm and boost their mood. The more patient a caregiver is, the easier it may be to help a senior with Alzheimer’s focus on something new and soothing.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Potomac families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
6. Organizational Skills
Keeping track of your loved one’s daily activities and the foods he or she eats is important. Alzheimer’s caregivers also need to make sure seniors receive reminders to take the correct medication at the right time. An organized caregiver can refer to records and charts and report any changes to family members or medical providers immediately, which could enhance your loved one’s health and overall quality of life.
Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors to manage without assistance, and it can be just as challenging for families who don’t have experience in providing Alzheimer’s care. Potomac Assisting Hands Home Care provides Alzheimer’s care seniors and their families can depend on. Our caregivers help seniors with Alzheimer’s and other memory-related conditions live happier and healthier lives. Call one of our Care Specialists today to learn about our customized in-home care plans.
