How to Visit an Alzheimer's Patient

It's tragic enough when older people lose memory and cognitive skills, but the personality changes of Alzheimer's disease can be devastating for loved ones, too. The eldercare profession is evolving to help people with this disease. But whether your parent or grandparent has adequate care at home, in assisted living or in skilled nursing, it's important to visit him or her.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Photos
• Small, familiar/meaningful items
• Recorded music (with portable player)

1. Arrive just before mealtime. Whether you're eating with your loved one, helping him eat, or just keeping him company, the rhythms and rituals of a meal are a good way to focus both of you in the moment.

2. Wash your hands. Cleanliness is always critical to health. Plus, older people tend to be frail and easily susceptible to germs and viruses. And if your loved one is under managed care, she may already have enough personal hygiene issues without your introducing anything new.

3. Check in with nurses, aides or spiritual advisers. Let them know you're here for a visit, and ask if you should be aware of any health or behavioral changes.

4. Cheerfully approach your loved one. Say hello in a way that can't be ignored. Introduce yourself if he appears confused about who you are. Don't take it personally if he can't identify you. For many people with Alzheimer's, a friendly, caring, vaguely familiar visitor is probably good enough.

5. Politely ask your loved one how she is. Her answer may be gracious, hostile, irrelevant or way too much information. Conversation matters more than content. But if you have any further questions on this subject, save them for Step 9.

6. Share news and photos of family and friends. When someone is losing his memory and identity, personal subjects will resonate deeper than current events or popular culture.

7. Talk about shared memories or your loved one's family history. A person with Alzheimer's is more likely to be in touch with her past than the present, and these subjects can be comforting. Old photos, familiar music and other meaningful items can be more powerful than words to someone losing her language skills.

8. When it's time to leave, say goodbye clearly, gently and firmly. Talk about why you're leaving, and about coming back next time. It's okay if you're not entirely truthful. This is conversation of the moment for someone with a poor sense of time.

9. Revisit nurses or aides if you have concerns. This will help them care for your loved one, and reassure you about that care.

10. Wash your hands on the way out. Those germs and viruses can work both ways.

Tips & Warnings

• Be cheerful and patient. You're here to make your loved one happy.
• Bring children and pets if possible. Many older people live alone or with others of their age. The presence of young people or animals is likely to brighten their day.
• Bring copies of photos rather than originals. Offer to put them on a wall, bulletin board or any fixed location where your loved one will notice them. Label any important object that you absolutely must leave with him. Personal items will get lost in eldercare facilities. That's just how it is.
• Music is a proven memory trigger for Alzheimer's patients and a source of pleasure for everyone. Bring a portable playback device if there are none on site.
• Don't correct your loved one on every point. Roll with the conversation no matter how strange it gets. You're here to interact, not to teach.
• Don't talk about people who have died. Maybe your loved one forgot. Maybe she never knew. But it's unlikely that she'll retain this information, and each time you tell her will be a new tragedy. If she asks for someone who's dead, casually pretend they're still alive and change the subject.