Tag Archive for: Alzheimer’s caregiving

Man behind locked door

How to Keep Loved Ones With Alzheimer’s From Wandering

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Man behind locked door

For those who have loved ones with Alzheimer’s, these tips for preventing wandering can help enhance safety and provide peace of mind.

Of the many effects of Alzheimer’s disease, one of the most alarming is the individual’s tendency for wandering and the potential dangers that can arise if the senior becomes disoriented or lost. Loved ones with Alzheimer’s may wander if they are:

  • Scared, confused or overwhelmed
  • Trying to find someone or something
  • Bored
  • Attempting to preserve a familiar former routine (such as going to work or shopping)
  • Taking care of a simple need (such as looking for a glass of water or going to the bathroom)

The goal is twofold; to keep your loved ones with Alzheimer’s safe and secure, and also to make certain his/her needs are fulfilled to attempt to prevent the desire to wander in the first place. Try the following safety precautions from our experts in senior home care in Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas if your family member is likely to wander:

  • Make sure the house is equipped with a security system and locks that the senior is unable to master, such as a sliding bolt lock out of his/her range of vision. An assortment of alarms can be purchased, from something as simple as placing a bell over doorknobs, to highly sensitive pressure mats that will sound an alarm when stepped upon, to GPS devices that may be worn, and many more. It is also a wise idea to sign up for the Alzheimer’s Association’s Safe Return Program.
  • Conceal exits by covering doors with curtains, placing short-term folding barriers strategically around doorways, or by wallpapering or painting doors to match the surrounding walls. You may want to try placing “NO EXIT” signs on doors, which can sometimes deter those in the earlier stages of dementia from attempting to exit.
  • Another risk for those who wander is the elevated danger of falling. Look over each room of the home and address any tripping concerns, such as removing throw rugs, electrical cords, and any obstructions that may be blocking walkways, adding extra lighting, and placing gates at the top and bottom of stairways.

It’s important to bear in mind that with guidance and direction, wandering is not necessarily an issue. Take a stroll together outside whenever weather allows and the senior is in the mood to be mobile, providing the extra advantage of fresh air, physical exercise, and quality time together.

The home health care team at Harmony Home Care & Hospice, a trusted provider of senior home care in Salt Lake City and the nearby areas, can help. We offer a wide range of home health care and therapy services that could benefit your loved one in a number of ways.  Reach out to us at 877-463-3322 to find out more!

happy mature daughter hugging her senior mother

Nonverbal Communication Tips for Alzheimer’s Caregivers

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happy mature daughter hugging her senior mother

These nonverbal communication tips can help family caregivers better connect with loved ones who have Alzheimer’s disease.

Communication with a senior trying to cope with all the struggles of Alzheimer’s, particularly in the middle and later stages, is often frustrating – both for you as well as for your loved one. Brain changes affect the capacity to listen, process, and respond effectively to conversations, and it’s up to us to implement innovative methods of communicating to more successfully interact with a loved one with dementia, such as by incorporating nonverbal communication tips.

The good thing is, it’s considerably easier than it might appear. We already communicate nonverbally in a variety of ways:

  • Touch
  • Posture and body movement
  • Eye contact
  • Facial expressions
  • Gestures
  • Personal space

Test out these methods from our caregivers in Provo and the nearby areas to integrate more nonverbal communication into your interactions with a senior loved one:

  • Offer reassurance through kind touch. If a senior loved one is comfortable with touch, hold and pat the senior’s hand, massage the senior’s back, put an arm around his or her shoulders, and provide warm hugs.
  • Look the person in the eye. Eye contact transmits interest in the senior, even when no words are spoken.
  • Respect personal boundaries. Avoid overwhelming the person by permitting plenty of personal space, and making sure you are at the same level as the individual, never towering over him or her. Your face should always be at eye level with the senior.
  • Maintain a relaxed, patient, and positive attitude. Curb any anger, annoyance or impatience, and focus on maintaining a calm and pleasant look on your face when with the senior. If this turns out to be difficult due to challenging behaviors, walk away momentarily and perform deep breathing or some other relaxation techniques; for example:
    • Square breathing: Use a finger to draw the shape of a square in front of you. When tracing the first side, breathe in deeply for a count of three; for the following side, hold your breath for one second; for the third side, breathe out for a count of three; and for the fourth side, hold your breath for one second. Repeat as many times as needed.
    • Calming phrase repetition: A few examples to get you started: This will pass, and things are ok. I’m able to handle this. I am safe and well.
    • Distracted thinking: Practice concentrated refocusing. Try saying the alphabet backwards, listing as many state capitals as you can, or singing the words to a popular song.

Discover more innovative techniques to successful Alzheimer’s care by getting in touch with Harmony Home Health & Hospice. Our caregivers in Provo and the surrounding areas can provide professional home health care services to ensure your loved one has the care they need to stay safe and happy at home during recovery. Reach out to us at 877-463-3322 at any time for assistance.

woman with grandmother assisting with mask

The Best Tips for Alzheimer’s Care During the Pandemic

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woman with grandmother assisting with mask

Caring for a loved one with dementia is difficult, but especially trying now.

Providing home care services for an aging parent with Alzheimer’s disease is often stressful under the best of conditions; mix in a worldwide pandemic, one that calls for social distancing, masks, and thorough sanitation of both us and the environment, and the challenge might seem insurmountable.

Harmony Home Health & Hospice’s Alzheimer’s care team provides the following ideas to help minimize anxiety and frustration for those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, while keeping both them and their caregivers safe:

  • Make self-care a priority. Now more than ever, it is important to determine your own personal level of stress, and take steps to make sure you’re in good health – both emotionally and physically. You can only give the best care for a senior loved one if your own needs are met. This could mean decreasing time spent watching the news, as well as on social media, maintaining connections with friends and family, and making time for comforting, enjoyable hobbies.
  • Take care of personal hygiene. Proper hand washing techniques are critical for all of us, but could be difficult for those with dementia to manage. Depending on the person’s stage of the disease, it might help to wash your hands with each other, showing the steps to your loved one; or, position signs next to the sink in the bathroom and kitchen with a message to wash for 20 seconds. And keep in mind that repetition, a common behavior in dementia, could work to your advantage in this situation.
  • Choose your words carefully. When speaking with the senior about changes connected with COVID-19, it’s important to keep it simple, utilizing a calm and reassuring tone. Beth Kallmyer, Vice President of Care and Support at the Alzheimer’s Association, suggests statements such as, “We have to stay inside because that’s most safe for us, but we’ll do it together. I’ll be with you and we’ll be okay.”
  • Be sure to have a backup plan. If you happened to be diagnosed with COVID-19 yourself, or another medical condition which could prevent you from safely providing homecare help for a loved one with dementia, it is critical to have a plan in place for who could take over to execute your care responsibilities. A skilled home health care agency, like Harmony Home Health & Hospice, is the perfect choice, with at home caregivers serving Salt Lake City and surrounding areas who are skilled in specialized dementia care and management of medical needs.

Let Harmony Home Health & Hospice help. Our professional dementia caregivers are fully trained and experienced in both following proper protocol pertaining to minimizing the risk for contracting coronavirus, and in the specialized type of care that is most effective for all those with Alzheimer’s disease. Reach out to us at 1-877-I-NEED-CARE (1-877-463-3322) for a consultation if you are seeking care from an at home caregiver in Salt Lake City or throughout Utah and New Mexico.