Six Areas Your Loved One May Need Help With During the Early Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease

Your loved one might have recently received a diagnosis indicating he has the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys someone’s memory and cognitive skills. It creates a loss of cognitive functioning and behavioral abilities to such an extent that it increasingly interferes with a person’s ability to navigate daily life and activities. Over time, people with Alzheimer’s lose the ability to perform simple daily tasks, such as eating or walking.

Yet, in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease, you and your loved one might feel like he is still fine to live at home on his own. For many, the ability to extend their independence for as long as possible is extremely important. Knowing what they’re going to lose creates a need to find ways to retain their independence for as long as possible.

With a little assistance, your loved one can still live in his home safely and securely.

Six Areas Your Loved One May Need Help With

While your loved one desires to remain independent, he will lengthen his time of being independent by receiving help in some areas. Helping your loved one with these daily activities can ensure he’ll stay safe and still manage his daily living successfully.

• Remembering key events and appointments. As your loved one begins to have memory struggles, he might find himself forgetting about some of his favorite people’s birthdays, important doctor appointments, or when the trash should be brought out to the curb.
• Driving. While your loved one may feel he can still drive safely, many early-stage Alzheimer’s patients also struggle with finding their way around, especially when there is road construction, bad weather, or in the dark. To stay safe and keep others on the roadways safe, he needs to know when to say “no” to driving.
• Making Meals. The early stages of Alzheimer’s disease can make following even the simplest recipe difficult. It can also create stress around using kitchen appliances. It’s also important for your loved one to continue to eat well to help his body maintain good physical and mental health, so finding solutions to meal prep is important.
• Taking Medications. Staying on top of his medications is important for your loved one’s overall health. If he neglects his medicine or takes it incorrectly, he could harm his health.
• Managing Daily Care. Your loved one may need reminders to bathe, get a haircut, or take care of his nails. He might need assistance trying to determine what clothes are appropriate for the weather.
• Maintaining His Home.  Household chores may become overwhelming as the disease progresses, creating a home that isn’t safe to live in.
  Providing Alzheimer’s Care During Early-Stage Dementia

While you and your family can step in and assist your loved one as he strives to live at home, an Alzheimer’s home care provider who offers regular visits can be another great option. An Alzheimer’s home care provider can help with daily care needs, home cleaning, making meals, and providing a safe person for him to check in with. As your loved one’s needs increase, Alzheimer’s care providers can adjust the services they provide so that your loved one has the help he needs.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s Home Care in Faith, NC, contact the caring professionals at TenderHearted Home Care today. Call us at (704) 612-4132