Dealing With Difficult Situations
Daily Activities and Personal Care
As Alzheimer's disease progresses, tasks like dressing, bathing, eating, and toileting may become harder to manage. Each patient has ups and downs. Some may find tasks like bathing, dressing, or eating confusing or challenging. Others may not. To make the best of the time spent with your loved one, you need to be flexible and understanding.
It may be helpful to:
- Observe your loved one's day to see if you can develop a routine that makes things go more smoothly
- Look for times when your loved one is less confused or more cooperative and plan your routine to make the most of those moments
Bathing
If your loved one is upset by bathing, advanced planning can help make bath time better for both of you. Schedule bath or shower time during the time of the day that your loved one is calmest. Try to plan your loved one’s baths or showers when you are not in a hurry. If you try to hurry the shower or bath, you may end up making it more confusing.
Dressing
For a person with Alzheimer's, getting dressed may be a series of problems. Reducing choices may help make dressing easier. Encourage your loved one to dress independently if they are able. Present a limited selection of outfits. Choose clothes that are comfortable, easy to get on and off, and easy to care for.
Eating
Eating can be hard for people with Alzheimer's. Some may want to eat all the time, while others have to be encouraged to eat. Make sure to serve meals in a quiet, calm place. Noise may prevent the patient from focusing on the meal.
Toileting
As Alzheimer's progresses, patients may lose control of their bladder and/or bowels. This can be upsetting to them and their caregivers. Try to be calm when these accidents happen. Sometimes it is due to illness, so be sure to talk about it with your loved one's doctor. If incontinence is common, talk about it with your loved one’s doctor.
Ask your doctor about Aricept. Aricept is the only treatment proven effective for all stages of Alzheimer's—mild, moderate, and severe. Studies showed Aricept treats Alzheimer's symptoms, slowing the loss of overall function and improving cognition.