Tips for Getting Your Parent Involved in Their Daily Routine as They Live with Alzheimer’s Disease
In your role as a family caregiver for an elderly adult who is living with Alzheimer’s disease, it is important to remember that just because your parent is living with this disease does not mean that they are incapable of participating in life or that they have lost all ability to engage with the world around them. Getting your parent involved in their daily routine and activities in their lives as they live with Alzheimer’s disease is an important part of stimulating their mind, supporting health and well-being, and encouraging them to live the highest quality of life possible as they progress.
Elder Care in Islip NY: Routines and Alzheimer’s
Use these tips to get your parent involved in their daily routine as they live with Alzheimer’s disease:
-Always assume that they can help. Rather than assuming the negative and that they are incapable of being involved, assume that they can and encourage them to be invested and independent as much as possible.
-Give them simple tasks that they can do that will help them to feel invested and important to the routine. Setting the table, folding towels, or bringing dishes to the sink are all valuable tasks that can keep your parent feeling relevant.
-Remember that elderly adults with Alzheimer’s disease lose their short-term memory first and often revert to behaviors and routines related to life when they were much younger. This means that they might really enjoy activities that make them feel that they are still involved in their career from the past. Think of what they did in their career and plan activities that mimic those tasks. A former secretary might enjoy sending emails or typing on a computer, while a mail worker might like to organize.
How can elder care help?
If you have been looking for ways to enhance your parent’s life, improve their care, and support their highest quality of life possible as they age in place, now may be the ideal time for you to consider starting elder care for them. An elderly home care services provider can be there with your parent to ensure that they always have access to the level of care, support, and assistance that is right for them to help them manage their individual needs and challenges, seek as much activity and independence as possible, and live a fulfilling lifestyle as they age in place.
These highly personalized services can include safe and reliable transportation, assistance with keeping their home clean and healthy, assistance with personal care tasks such as bathing, grooming, and toileting, medication reminders to keep them compliant and help with needs such as meal preparation. As a family caregiver, knowing that your parent is getting these services can give you peace of mind and ease your stress, allowing you to take a step back and focus more time and energy on other needs in your life, such as your children, your marriage, your career, and yourself.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering elder care in Islip, NY, please contact the caring staff at Family First Home Companions.
Serving all of Long Island. Call today: (631) 319-3961
Source:
https://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-food-eating.asp
Jennifer has specialized training in Alzheimer’s disease through the Long Island Alzheimer’s Association and the Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation.She also volunteered her time with the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Center of Long Island for 3 years by providing cognitive stimulation to an Alzheimer’s patient group.
Jennifer educates the community about elder care and speaks to caregiver support groups, senior centers, and at professional organizations.Topics include home safety, effective strategies for family caregiving, elder care planning, and awareness about elder abuse.
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