Alzheimer's & Dementia In-Home Care

Daily routines can be helpful for both you — the caregiver — and the person living with Alzheimer's. A planned day allows you to spend less time trying to figure out what to do, and more time on activities that provide meaning and enjoyment.

Regular, nutritious meals may become a challenge for people living in the middle and late stages of Alzheimer’s. They may become overwhelmed with too many food choices, forget to eat or think they have already eaten. 

Bathing can be a challenge because people living with Alzheimer’s may be uncomfortable receiving assistance with such an intimate activity. They may also have depth perception problems that make it scary to step into water. They may not perceive a need to bathe or may find it a cold, uncomfortable experience. If people regard bathing as scary, embarrassing, unpleasant or uncomfortable, they may communicate their discomfort by verbally and/or physically resisting attempts to bathe.

Music and art can enrich the lives of people with Alzheimer's disease. Both allow for self-expression and engagement, even after dementia has progressed.

Helping a person with dementia maintain his or her appearance can promote positive self-esteem. While these tasks may become frustrating for a person with Alzheimer's in the later stages of the disease, we are to help. A person with dementia may forget how to comb hair, clip fingernails or shave. He or she may forget what the purpose is for items like nail clippers or a comb.

It’s important for everyone who takes medication to understand its purpose and proper usage. Additional measures may be needed to ensure individuals living with dementia take medications as directed. A plan to safely manage prescription and over-the-counter medications are critical to avoiding medication-related problems.

As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, it is common for incontinence of the bladder and bowels to occur, particularly in the middle and late stages. There are many causes, as well as ways to help manage incontinence. How you respond can help the person living with dementia retain a sense of dignity.

As Alzheimer's progresses, the person with dementia may forget how to brush his or her teeth or forget why it's important. As a caregiver, you may have to assist or take a more hands-on approach. Proper oral care is necessary to prevent eating difficulties, digestive problems and infections