Caring For Someone With Alzheimer’s During A Pandemic

There’s no two ways about the fact that we are living in unprecedented times given the Covid surge across the globe. USA isn’t far behind in this regard. Prioritizing your health is of utmost importance. Your work is a tad more if you are caring for someone dealing with Alzheimer’s disease or other-related dementia.

This article aims to give you an idea on how you can help your older adult with Alzheimer’s easily navigate life during the pandemic:

Do not lose your calm- As a family caregiver, you are bound to get stressed as you navigate life in these tough times. Try to stay calm and composed, no matter the situation. Stay off social media for some time to erase negativity from your life. Avoid watching news with your Alzheimer’s loved one. If you are overwhelmed with feelings, channel it into productive action (taking up a hobby, learning something new). You can very well turn your feelings into success when you have the right outlets to express your feelings, such as talking to someone like a friend, therapist.

Prioritize self-care- This is one of the most important things to do now more than ever. You must exercise serious caution given the times we are in. When the health of your physical and emotional well-being is intact, only then will you be able to impart the best form of care to your Alzheimer’s beloved. So assess your needs and requirements, and get them met. This could be catching up with friends, reducing screen time, taking up a hobby, etc. It is of utmost importance to make time for yourself.

Maintain personal hygiene- This is a no-brainer. Also, it is important to lead by example when you are a carer for someone with Alzheimer’s who’ll follow in your footsteps. Frequently sanitize your hands, wash your hands at regular intervals. Show your loved one on how exactly to go about these steps so they can follow easily. It is also a good idea to place signs at places to wash, sanitise, etc.

Create and stick to a routine- It goes without saying that the pandemic has wreaked havoc on your established routines, especially those involving outings. It is time to develop new routines and make it a point to stick to it. Routine relevant for the time we are in and something that’s comforting to you older adult in terms of a fixed time for meals, bedtime, etc.

Last, but not the least, get vaccinated at the earliest besides eating well and staying fit (applies for everyone).

Caring for someone with dementia is challenging, and the challenges have increased manifold with the advent of the pandemic with all the sanitation, social distancing, et al to curb the spread of the virus. Tolerance and patience of family caregivers are bound to reach the tipping point at some point or other. The key is to stay calm and not let stress get the better of you. Utilizing specialized memory care at an Anthem assisted living or memory care facility is also a good idea for family caregivers.