5 Keys To Helping A Patient With Alzheimer’s

There are some keys to practice that allow Alzheimer’s patients to manage their frustration and impatience.

Helping a patient with Alzheimer’s is no easy task. Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes progressive memory loss. At first, the patient begins to forget small things. At an advanced stage of the disease, the patient does not even recognize the faces of his own family.

Alzheimer’s disease not only affects the sufferer, but the whole family. The family has to face rejection, insults, and the harsh reality that causes the patient to not recognize his loved ones. For these reasons, it is necessary to put into practice a few keys to taking help from a patient with Alzheimer’s.

1. Direct and easy communication

Communicating with a patient with Alzheimer’s can be a real challenge. He may get distracted easily, may not understand what you are saying, and you may have to repeat yourself over and over again. The patient is then a required quality. To make your job easier, follow the recommendations below.

• Use short, simple sentences. Do not scream. Don’t overdo it. Speak quietly
• Look the person in the eye at all times, and give them your attention
• Be patient, as it may take a while for the patient to respond to you. Let him take his time
• If you do not understand the patient when they communicate with you, try your best to understand them.

2. Help him, but in moderation

Many people who have to help a patient with Alzheimer’s disease end up treating them like a baby. These people then communicate with the patient as if they were a baby, and talk to other people about them as if they were not in the room. It does not add anything positive.

Although a patient with Alzheimer’s has difficulty communicating, dressing and showering, we must do everything in our power to ensure that he is independent (choose his clothes, wash himself, etc.) . It does not matter if it takes time to complete these different tasks. Remember you have to be patient.

3. Establish a routine

Establishing a routine can go a long way in helping a patient with Alzheimer’s. Thus, it is recommended that the patient wash, eat and go to bed at a fixed time every day. If possible, be sure to schedule these different activities for times when the patient is generally calm.

Thanks to this routine, the different tasks become automatic gestures, which will then allow the patient to enjoy greater independence, because he knows what to do. This will give him a sense of security and prevent him from being disoriented. 

4. Help the patient with cognitive stimulation 

For a person with Alzheimer’s to enjoy a better quality of life, it is important that we help them maintain an active mind by learning new skills and practicing exercises that stimulate their cognitive ability.

Taking your time to do crosswords, sudoku, or read and dictate is very important. Not only does cognitive stimulation improve quality of life, it also slows disease progression, reduces stress and strengthens independence.

5. Take care of your non-verbal communication

We said a little earlier that verbal communication with an Alzheimer’s patient could be difficult. The patient may take a long time to respond, usually does not speak coherently, and does not understand what we are saying on the first try. It is for this reason that it is essential to take care of your non-verbal communication. Smiles, emotional displays, physical contact (kisses and hugs) can greatly help the patient to feel loved and accompanied.

If you are stressed, lose patience, and are in a rush when it comes to certain activities, the disease will not improve. The patient will also be stressed and will tend to isolate himself, feeling misunderstood and alone. It is therefore essential to give a lot of love and a lot of tenderness to patients suffering from Alzheimer’s, and to show patience. Put yourself in their shoes. Being tough and getting angry doesn’t do any good.

How would you like to be treated? Would you feel good if no one was giving you quality time? Empathy helps us see things from a different perspective and treat someone with Alzheimer’s the way they deserve.