Watching a loved one slip into confusion, forget names, or lose their sense of time is painful. Alzheimer’s changes how your parent, partner, or grandparent moves through daily life.
You might find yourself repeating instructions, constantly calming their frustrations, or just trying to help them feel safe in their home.
Caring for seniors with Alzheimer’s takes patience, structure, and compassion. But it also takes help.
At Senior CareStar, we approach every individual with patience, respect, and steady support. Our care focuses on what your loved one can do, helping them feel safe, understood, and at home.
Empathetic Care Approaches You Can Use to Care for Your Loved One
Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s means adjusting your approach as the disease changes them. Trying to understand their feelings and perspective is key.
Here are some ways to offer kind support:
- Be Patient and Calm: Your loved one might get upset or confused easily. Staying calm and speaking softly and reassuringly can help them feel safe. Give them plenty of time to respond.
- Keep Things Simple: Use short, clear sentences. Give one instruction at a time. For example, instead of “Go put on your shoes and coat,” try “Here are your shoes,” wait for them to put them on, then “Here is your coat.”
- Focus on Feelings, Not Facts: If your loved one believes something untrue, like that their long-gone parent is coming for dinner, it’s often better to acknowledge their feeling (“You miss your mom, don’t you?”) rather than trying to correct them with facts. Arguing can cause distress.
- Use Gentle Redirection: If they are fixated on a difficult topic, gently change the subject or suggest a different activity. “Let’s go look at the flowers instead” can work better than trying to logically explain why their idea isn’t correct.
- Create a Routine: A regular daily schedule can provide comfort and security. Try to do things at the same time each day, like meals, bathing, and bedtime.
- Maintain Dignity: Always speak to them with respect. Remember, even with the changes, they are still the person you know. Help them do as much for themselves as they can.
- Use Non-Verbal Cues: Sometimes a gentle touch, a warm smile, or eye contact can communicate more than words, especially as verbal communication with Alzheimer’s patients verbal abilities decline.
Professional In-Home Alzheimer’s Care You Can Trust
Providing consistent, compassionate Alzheimer’s care can be exhausting for family caregivers. It’s completely understandable to need help.
Professional in-home Alzheimer’s support can provide invaluable assistance, delivering specialized care for your loved one while giving you the opportunity to rest and rejuvenate.
We at Senior CareStar have a custom dementia care plan for each client. Every plan is tailored to the needs of your loved one.
Our in-home dementia care will allow your loved one to continue living independently with the assistance of our dedicated staff. Our caregivers will be there to assist with:
- Transitional Assistance
- Help With Bathing And Grooming
- Meal Preparation
- Light Housekeeping
- Medication Reminders
- Comforting companionship
Having skilled support at home means your loved one can remain in a familiar, comfortable setting, which is often very beneficial for people with memory conditions.
This kind of specialized care helps reduce stress for both the person with Alzheimer’s and their family, allowing you all to focus on moments of connection and comfort.
Call Senior CareStar today at (815) 201-5700 or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation.