Hearing a physician diagnose your aging parent with Alzheimer’s isn’t easy. The news could be life-changing for everyone involved, especially your loved one. Regardless, it’s necessary to build a plan to address the lifestyle changes your family will face, from medical treatments to cognitive issues, behavioral problems, and scheduling difficulties. Handling these steps early on can make the process more manageable.
Deal with Emotions in Private
Anger, sadness, guilt, and other negative emotions are common when an aging loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. However, your parent will generally look to you to determine how to handle the situation. If you and your siblings are sad or depressed, it could encourage your loved one to feel those emotions as well. Therefore, it’s crucial to remain positive. Look for ways to ease the caregiving load without making your loved one feel like a burden.
At this point, you may want to consider professional in-home care for your loved one. Elderly home care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.
Learn More about the Disease
Most family caregivers have little knowledge about Alzheimer’s aside from things they read online or stories they overhear. The disease affects every senior differently, so you should learn as much as possible about it to develop strategies based on your loved one’s current abilities. The objective is to encourage independence as much as possible. For example, your loved one should continue to take on physical activities, go on social outings, and handle as many daily tasks as possible without putting him or herself at risk. Doing so could slow the progression of the disease and boost your loved one’s mental health.
Create a Schedule
If your family members and friends are committed to helping out with your loved one’s healthcare needs, let them. Together, you can make the process less challenging, giving everyone more time to care for your loved one instead of limiting activities and increasing the odds of physical, mental, and emotional setbacks. Share as many tasks as possible instead of giving one person more responsibilities than the others. However, if you need to do more than other family members, always schedule regular breaks, which should include time off for weekend getaways, outings with friends or children, and alone time to enjoy relaxing activities.
If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care Richmond, a trusted provider of senior care. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping.
Seek Counseling
Enroll your loved one in an Alzheimer’s support group. During the group sessions, your parent can share his or her emotions with others and learn more about the disease. In many instances, counselors can provide tips to help seniors and their caregivers handle different challenges related to Alzheimer’s, such as forgetfulness and mood swings. You may also want to consider enrolling in caregiver sessions to speak with other individuals who’ve taken on similar roles. Counseling can ease your mind and give you a break from caregiving.
The days, weeks, and months following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be challenging for both seniors and their families. However, these challenges can be made less stressful with the help of caregivers trained in professional Alzheimer’s care. Richmond Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help your loved one enjoy the golden years while simultaneously managing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. To learn more about our reliable, compassionate in-home care services, contact us at (804) 600-0002 today.
