Caring For An Elderly Parent With Alzheimer's Disease? Here Are 3 Ways To Cope

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When your elderly parent starts exhibiting signs of Alzheimer's disease, you may be concerned. If you have no medical training, it can be tough to know what to do or how to react to the changes that your parent is going through.

Here are just a few tips that can help you care for your parent during this time:

Help Them Avoid Falls

As your parent gets older, they may be more likely to trip on things like throw rugs. Make sure you take a look around their home and remove anything that could cause a fall. That includes throw rugs, but it can also include clutter.

Small pets must be watched, as they can cause trips and falls. Consider taking their pet home with you, or keeping the pet in certain rooms so that your parent doesn't have a problem.

Deal with Rummaging and Hiding Things

If you find that your parent is starting to rummage through drawers and cabinets and hiding some of the things they find, you need to help them stay safe. First, make an attempt to find out why they are rummaging through things. It may be that they want to find something. For instance, if you find your parent rummaging through the refrigerator at the same time every day, it's a safe bet that they just want a snack.

It's a good idea to go through their home and remove hazardous materials from their reach. You may also want to store valuable items and keys in places you know they can't get to.

Take Breaks

It is critical that you remember to take care of yourself, even as you care for your elderly parent. Care-giving can be a tiring, stressful experience, and it is vital that you take breaks regularly. Hire a home care nurse to take over for an afternoon, or have other relatives come over for a while.

You may wish to seek out other caregivers who understand what you're going through and can provide you with some support. You can find groups for caregivers online, and you should also be able to get information about support groups from your parent's doctor or local hospitals.

If you find that you need additional help to care for your parent, get in touch with local home care professionals. They can care for your elderly parent and you can be confident that your parent is in good hands. To learn more, contact a company like Sutton In Home Senior Care.


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