Living Well 60+ November – December 2014 | Page 25

NOV/DEC 2014

How to Help an
Alzheimer’s Caregiver
You can show your support in a
number of ways
by Lisa M. Petsche, Staff Writer

One in 10 Americans over age
65 years and almost half of those
over age 85 years have Alzheimer’s
disease or a related type of dementia
(loss of intellectual functioning).
Alzheimer’s disease, the most
common form of dementia, involves
a gradual breakdown of nerve cells
in the brain. Affected persons lose

the ability to interpret information and to send messages to their
bodies to behave in certain ways.
Over time, they experience mental,
emotional, behavioral and physical
changes, necessitating increasing
amounts of supervision and, eventually, hands-on help with activities of
daily living.
Spouses and children provide
most – if not all – of that help. These

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caregivers are at increased risk for
depression and other health problems due to the emotional strain
and physical toll of caregiving.
Here are some things that you, as
a friend or relative, can do to help
prevent an Alzheimer’s caregiver
you know from wearing down:
Keep in touch. Recognize that
you may have to make most of the
effort in maintaining the relationship.
Become informed. Educate
yourself about Alzheimer’s to help
you understand the kinds of challenges caregivers often face. Share
information with family and friends,
as well as the caregiver.
Lend an ear. Listen nonjudgmentally and demonstrate compassion to the caregiver when he or she
wants to share. Don’t give unsolicited advice.
Promote self-care. Encourage
the caregiver to eat nutritiously,
exercise and get sufficient rest in
order to maintain good health. Do
whatever you can to help make this
happen. For example, bring over a
meal or offer to sit with the care recipient while the caregiver goes for a
walk or take a nap. Also, encourage
the caregiver to get regular medical
checkups and offer to stay with the
care recipient while they attend appointments.
Provide practical help. Determine what kind of assistance the
caregiver could use most. Perhaps
it’s picking up groceries, running
errands or doing laundry or yard
work. If your assistance is declined,
continue to express your desire to
help. Meanwhile, take it upon yourself to deliver a casserole or baked

goods or, if you’re a neighbor, sweep
both walks or bring in both sets of
trash cans.
Surprise the caregiver with a
treat. Ideas include a favorite maga-

zine, a rented movie, fresh flowers
or a plant or a gift certificate to a
restaurant that has delivery service.
Give the caregiver a break. Offer to sit with the care recipient for
an hour while the caregiver goes to
a hair appointment or church, or for
a longer stretch so they can attend a
social event.
Locate resources. Offer to obtain information about community
support services such as home care,
adult day care and residential respite
programs.
Jo