Alzheimer’s News
How fear and lack of understanding of Alzheimer’s is stigmatising those who have it
Few of us will escape the impact of Alzheimer’s Disease. The grim pay-back from being healthy, wealthy or lucky enough to live into our late 80s and beyond is dementia. One in three - maybe even one in two of us - will then get dementia and forget almost everything we...
Choosing a suitable home
This worksheet acts as a simple guideline for people considering admission to a retirement home or to a frail care centre for either themselves or someone they love and care for. Emphasis is on the practical considerations. You are, however, encouraged to look at the...
Dressing and personal care
Your approach to personal care should always take full account of the feelings and dignity of the person you are helping. People with dementia cannot always tell you if they feel embarrassed. Personal care must be given to the individual; it's not just a matter of...
Washing and Bathing
Most adults like to wash on their own when no-one is around to watch them. When looking after people with dementia, you need to remember this and only help as much as you have to. It is important to respect their need to be on their own and let them wash themselves...
Keeping the home safe
When you are caring for people with dementia, you need to encourage them to be independent (do things for themselves) but at the same time you need to make sure that they cannot get hurt or put themselves in danger. A simple fall can result in that person no longer...
Nutrition and Dementia
As a carer you will want to make sure that the person for whom you are caring eats a healthy, well balanced diet. Depending on the individual and the progress of the dementia, mealtimes can be pleasant, with the person thoroughly enjoying the food or they may be...
How to communicate
It is not always easy to understand what people with dementia are saying because they may just mumble, not speak at all, or may say things that do not make any sense to you. Sometimes they might just scream or cry. Not being understood or being able to understand...
Keeping busy
Everyone likes having something to do or to look at. Being occupied is healthy and improves the quality of life. One of the aims when caring for people with dementia is to encourage them to do as much as they can for themselves. Why planned everyday activities are...
Everyday care
Your approach to personal care should always take full account of the feelings and dignity of the person you are helping. People with dementia cannot always tell you if they feel embarrassed. Personal care must be given to the individual: these are not just tasks that...
Unusual Behaviour
Alzheimer's disease can cause a person to exhibit unusual and unpredictable behaviour that challenges caregivers, such as severe mood swings, verbal or physical aggression, combativeness, repetition of words, and wandering. These behavioural changes can lead to...
Coping
Alzheimer's disease affects not only the person with dementia, but the entire family. The greatest burden is placed on the caregiver. The personal and emotional stress of caring for a person with dementia is enormous and you need to plan ways of coping with the...
Understanding
Most older people live at home and have very few or only minor memory difficulties. Sometimes, however, forgetfulness is a serious problem. Such people have difficulty in remembering things from one moment to the next. They may not remember where they are. They might...