Managing a person’s personality changes can be difficult. Listed below are some ways for Alzheimer’s care Southeast Denver and how to cope with personality changes. As a caretaker, you need to be aware of what your loved one may be thinking and feeling. It’s important to avoid arguing with them about their experiences. Don’t let them watch violent films or give them access to potentially dangerous objects. Remember that wandering behavior may occur without warning.
Strategies
The spouse of a person with Alzheimer’s disease has many challenges. They may be socially isolated and lose friends. Finding support is vital. Moreover, a spouse must prioritize their own health needs. Caring for a loved one with dementia is not easy; without adequate care, a caregiver cannot provide quality care. You may also feel grief, anger, or resentment as a caregiver.
One of the most important strategies for caring for someone with Alzheimer’s is to plan outings. If you can, plan outings around when your loved one feels best. For example, some people are energetic in the morning, and others are more sluggish at night. To avoid overstretching your loved one, schedule the outings during the day. If possible, plan outings at the beginning of the day and return before they feel tired.
Routines
One of the most important aspects of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s is maintaining a routine. A person with the disease often needs help with daily tasks like bathing, eating, and going to the bathroom. A caregiver must balance the person’s need for independence with privacy—some ways to establish a routine work well for both parties. For example, you may want to include the person’s favorite activities into your daily routine.
Having a routine helps you maintain emotional awareness. When you are aware of your own emotions, you can better recognize and react to positive ones. It also allows you to understand your role as a caregiver better. In addition, daily routines help maintain the individual’s well-being and reduce the burden of caregiving. Routines should be revised to accommodate changes in the caretaker’s abilities.
Coping with personality changes
Dealing with personality changes is a difficult part of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. The changes in a person’s personality may reflect cognitive dysfunction. For instance, a heart-first person may suddenly become impulsive or complain constantly. Similarly, an extrovert who enjoys closeness may be overly direct and often not check to ensure the person is okay with it. In such a case, it’s important to understand what is going on and how to cope with these changes.
While the person you’re caring for may be confused, anxious, and sometimes unpredictable, you can prepare for these changes. One way to prepare is to adjust to the environment. As the person’s abilities decline, adjust to the environment. For example, lock doors when your loved one is away. Another way to prepare for this eventuality is to enroll in the Safe-Return Program run by the Alzheimer’s Association. This program requires caregivers to wear a bracelet with a toll-free number so that if the person gets lost or wanders, someone can know where they are.
Dealing with incontinence
Managing incontinence can be challenging, particularly when someone with Alzheimer’s disease cannot control their bowel or bladder movements. Though incontinence is not a pleasant topic to discuss, it is essential to care for someone with dementia. Several causes of incontinence can be identified, including the person’s lack of ability to recognize when it is time to use the restroom, side effects of medication, and medical conditions, such as diabetes and prostate problems.
Occupational therapists deliver a program to caregivers focusing on toileting and incontinence, including a training program for caregivers. The goal is to increase caregivers’ ability to manage incontinence while maintaining dignity and independence. While toileting programs and incontinence adult pads remain the mainstays of care, caregivers are often left to deal with incontinence alone. A caregiver’s stress level can rise if they cannot get to the toilet in time.