Living with Alzheimer’s Disease

Caring for someone who is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease can be stressful and sometimes hard. By planning activities, being patient, and staying consistent in routines, day-to-day activities will be less stressful for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease.

What is Alzheimer's Disease?

Discovered by Dr. Alois Alzheimer, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, leading to struggles with day-to-day tasks. AD is the leading cause of dementia among older adults with most late-onset symptoms appearing when someone is reaching their mid-60s. This age is where most cases of AD are diagnosed. While rare, early-onset symptoms of AD occur anywhere from someone’s 30s-60s.

Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

Memory loss that disrupts daily life is the most common symptom of Alzheimer’s Disease. Other symptoms include:

• Challenges in planning or solving problems
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks
• Confusion with time or place
• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
• New problems with words in speaking or writing
• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
• Decreased or poor judgement
• Withdrawal from work or social activities
• Changes in mood and personality
• Trouble recalling very recent events
• Memory lapses, like getting lost driving familiar routes

If you notice any of these symptoms in yourself or your loved ones, it is important that you don’t ignore them and talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

Tips for Caregivers and Families

Caring for someone who is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease can be stressful and sometimes hard. It can take multiple people who share tasks and responsibilities related to that person's life. It is important to set realistic and attainable goals, anticipate misinterpretation, enjoy good times, reminisce about the past, and be flexible when dealing with AD.

Because AD is a disease of the brain that disrupts daily life, establishing a routine and developing systems for remembering tasks are important. By planning activities, being patient, and staying consistent in routines, day-to-day activities will be less stressful for someone with AD.

In addition to daily tasks being impacted by Alzheimer's Disease, communication can become hard between someone with AD, their family, and caregivers. Some tips for communicating with someone who has AD include:

• Be reassuring to the person
• Speak calmly and in a clear manner
• Listen to concerns and frustrations he or she has
• Allow the person to keep as much control of their life as possible
• Respect personal space
• Build quiet times into the day
• Build activities into the day
• Keep well-loved objects around the house for familiarity
• Remind the person who you are and try to avoid asking “don’t you remember?”
• Encourage as much two-way conversation as possible
• Distract the person with an activity like a familiar book or photo album if they are struggling to communicate with words

Taking Care of Yourself

Caring for someone with Alzheimer's Disease can be hard on your mental health, especially if that person is someone in your family. Therefore, it’s important that you are seeking help from a therapist or mental health professional if you find yourself having trouble coping with the situation.

Sources: Dr. Zara Fatima, alz.org, cdc.gov, alzheimers.gov, nih.gov