There may be times when you need to step back from the demands in your life. You need to take breaks and get time to yourself. Whenever you need a break, respite care may be an option. This is an excellent option for caregivers without family around to help out. Ask your doctor or local Alzheimer’s Association chapter for respite care programs in your area.

Specific types of respite care include:

In-Home Care

One of the most common types of respite care takes place in the home. In-home care may include keeping your loved one company, helping with personal care, skilled nursing care, or helping with household chores.

Adult Day Care

Another common type of respite care takes place at adult day care. At most adult day care programs, the staff plans games, activities, and support groups. Meals and a ride to and from day care may be part of the program.

Short-Term Nursing Home Care

For more extended time away, short-term nursing home care may be an option. Some nursing homes may accept residents for a short period of time to give their caregivers a break.

Day care, in-home care, and short-term nursing home care give your loved one a chance to meet and spend time with others. And, it can give you a much-needed break for yourself.

Learn about long-term care options >

As a caregiver, you might already be thinking about your loved one's long-term needs. As Alzheimer's disease progresses, the symptoms may get worse. There may come a point when your loved one needs more care than you can provide on your own.

You might find long-term care hard to face. You might feel guilty about it. You are not alone in feeling that way. Talk to the doctor about what you’re feeling. Partner with him/her and explain your current situation. Together, you can evaluate your loved one’s changing needs. The doctor may be able to guide you in making the right choice for your loved one. Don’t take it all on yourself. Remember, any decision you make is the right one for you.

If you decide to use long-term care, there are a lot of options to consider:

If your loved one needs more help than you can provide, home care might be an answer. Home care can provide the support and extra help that a loved one needs to stay at home with a caregiver. In-home care may include any of the following:

• Health and medical care
• Friendly visits
• Help with personal care
• Cooking and housekeeping

Assisted living allows people to live in an apartment-like setting. Care and support is available when it is needed. Assisted living facilities may:

• Provide meals
• Help with bathing, dressing, taking medicine, and housekeeping
• Offer recreation opportunities

Nursing homes provide services and oversight around the clock by trained professionals. If nursing home care is the right choice for your loved one, look for places with special units for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

A move to a facility is a big change for both you and your loved one. If possible, you should have support during the transition. Friends, family, or a social worker may be able to help.

Check with your insurance company to see what services they cover for long-term care. Coverage varies by company and by state.

Is your loved one already in a facility? Find out what to do >

If you decide to use a care facility, there are a few things to consider:

Planning can be overwhelming if you don't know where to begin. This list can help you start organizing for placement in a care facility.

Find out what your loved one's wishes are.

• Discuss their current health status.
• Figure out how to work together.

Find out where all important documents and passwords are.

• Bank accounts
• Retirement accounts
• Safe deposit boxes
• Investments
• Wills, trusts
• Advance directives

Establish what type of care will be required.

• Talk with your loved one about his or her preferences
• A geriatric care manager or social worker can help you figure what works best for your loved one.
• Visit different types of facilities (nursing homes, assisted living) in your area.
• Consider all physical and mental health conditions that your loved one has as part of your evaluation criteria.

Get informed about financial considerations.

• Call different types of care facilities to see how much each will cost.
• Ask them what types of insurance they accept.
• Call your loved one's insurance company to see which expenses and how much costs they cover (Medicare/Medicaid differ by state).
• Locate your loved one's insurance policy documentation and ID card.
• Find out if your loved one has long-term care insurance.
• Find out how much Social Security your loved one receives.
• Ask if your loved one receives any other pensions or benefits.

Understand the legal issues and implications.

• Get important information from your loved one's lawyer, if available.
• Establish whether your loved one can make decisions or pay bills.
• If not, find out about getting a power of attorney.
• Talk to an eldercare attorney who specializes in the geriatric field.

It might help to also start treatment as soon as possible. ARICEPT may be able to help slow the progression of symptoms. Or, if your loved one is already on treatment, continue treatment so it can keep helping with symptoms.

Get more information about legal and financial considerations.

Is your loved one already in a facility? Find out what to do >

Even though your loved one is in a facility, your role as caregiver is still important. But now you work in partnership with the doctors, nurses, and assistants who staff the care facility.

It takes a team of professionals and family members to ensure the best care. Besides regular visits, you can still help your loved one by:

• Evaluating their condition, noticing any changes in memory, attitude, or normal abilities.
• Mentioning any changes you see to the staff.
• Regularly checking with staff to see how your loved one is doing.
• Meeting with or calling your loved one's doctors to stay informed about existing or new conditions, what medications they are taking, etc.

Always keep the conversation open between you and the facility staff. You rely on them for day-to-day care and they rely on you for patient history. You might provide information about your loved one that will help them diagnose and treat new and existing conditions.

If You See Changes in Your Loved One

If your loved one is currently in a care facility, you may not know what to do when you see changes. It also may be hard to tell if what you are seeing is a regular occurrence or a one-time thing. Start by learning about common signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. You can learn more by asking questions:

• Ask the facility staff if they have noticed any memory, function, or behavior changes in your loved one.
• Mention what you’ve seen and ask if they have witnessed similar changes in memory, attitude, or abilities.
• Ask if there has been any change in medical condition or medication.
• Ask if any treatment has been given to address these changes.
• Find out if a diagnosis has been made, and if not, talk to the doctor about your concerns.

It is estimated that almost 73% of long-term care residents have some type of cognitive impairment, which may include dementia.*¹ And approximately 70% of dementia is Alzheimer's.^{2, 3}

If your loved one is diagnosed with dementia,* ask if it's Alzheimer's. And ask your doctor if ARICEPT may help. Since ARICEPT may slow the progression of Alzheimer's symptoms, it's important to get a diagnosis and start treatment as early as possible. The earlier you treat, the earlier you may start to see benefits.

When a Loved One Is Diagnosed

Having a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer's while in a facility can be difficult for family members. You may not understand the disease or what a diagnosis means. You might also be hesitant to add another drug to your loved one's roster of medical treatments.

It may be hard for you to watch your loved one change, but Alzheimer's is also difficult for the sufferer to experience. Sometimes they struggle to find the right words, or have trouble getting dressed, which may be frustrating. Remember that ARICEPT may help slow the progression of Alzheimer's symptoms. That may help keep the patient more like themselves longer.

Think about what that could mean to you, your family, and friends. Since Alzheimer's gets worse over time, slowing the progression of symptoms could mean a lot. Not just for you, but for your loved one. Discuss treatment with your loved one's doctor and facility staff. Ask if ARICEPT may help.

When a Loved One Is on ARICEPT

When seeking treatment for your loved one, you have a lot to consider. Remember that Alzheimer's is a progressive disease. Since ARICEPT may help slow the progression of symptoms, maintaining treatment may help your loved one — keeping them more like themselves a little longer.

¹ Omnicare analysis of matched MDS records and prescription claims. July 25, 2006.
² Morris JC. Differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Clin Geriatr Med. 1994;10:257-276.
³ Geldmacher DS, Whitehouse PJ. Evaluation of dementia. N Engl J Med. 1996;335:330-336

Learn how to build a support network >