How to Help Someone With Alzheimer's Disease

If you are one of the 2.7 million Americans who care for a family member or friend with Alzheimer's disease, here are some things you can do to improve the person's quality of life.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Childproof Locks
• Oven Safety Switches
• Safety Gates
• Plastic Cups
• Plastic Plates
• Plastic Storage Containers
• Plastic Cups
• Raised Toilet Seats

1. Learn as much about Alzheimer's as you can so you will know what to expect and how to be patient.
2. Be sure to childproof your house the same way you would for a toddler. For instance, put a gate at the top of your stairs, put childproof locks on cabinets, and remove glass tabletops and other furniture with sharp edges that can cause injuries.
3. Remove any items in your home that a person could trip over.
4. Avoid using area rugs, which can slip and cause a person to trip and fall.
5. Keep the temperature of your water heater low to avoid scalding by burning water, which is a common injury among people with Alzheimer's.
6. Block off radiators with some type of fencing so the person does not get burned in the winter when the heat is on.
7. Keep your basement locked.
8. Clearly label any poisonous items, such as paint or cleaning supplies. Keep the poison control center's number on hand just in case an emergency arises.
9. Remove any plants from your house that are poisonous if eaten.
10. Remove the knobs on a gas oven, or ask an electrician to install a safety switch that will prevent an electric oven from being turned on by your charge. These efforts will help avoid a bad burn or a house fire.
11. Understand that people with Alzheimer's often lock the bathroom door and then forget how to open it. Consider removing bathroom locks to prevent this from happening.
12. Buy a raised seat for your toilet from a medical supply house to make things easier for a person with Alzheimer's.
13. Be affectionate with the person. Holding hands, giving a massage and hugging all have a calming influence and can help the person feel good. Studies have even shown that touch can help reduce behavioral problems among people with Alzheimer's.

Tips & Warnings

• Take control of the person's finances and legal issues if he or she is no longer able to do this alone. Check with a lawyer who specializes in elder care to find out how to go about this.
• Ask for support from family members so you do not have to shoulder this heavy responsibility alone.