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Creating a Daily
Care Plan for Someone Living with Alzheimer’s Disease
For people living with
dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, routines and reminders can
be critical for helping them to live their best life
possible.
Because of COVID-19,
unpaid caregivers are spending more time with their loved
ones and possibly more time doing direct care. Creating a
daily care plan for someone with Alzheimer’s disease can
provide needed structure and allow more time to spend on
satisfying activities for both.
Pam Myers, Program Director for the Northwest Ohio Chapter,
said “We know that caring for a person with Alzheimer’s or
another dementia poses special challenges for caregivers,
who are often providing this care alone. Establishing a
daily plan around activities, meals, and medication delivery
can be effective in providing support to the person living
with dementia and decrease stress for the caregiver.”
In the United States, 83 percent of the help provided to
older adults comes from family members, friends or other
unpaid caregivers. Nearly half of all caregivers who provide
help to older adults do so for someone living with
Alzheimer's or another dementia.
Eric VanVlymen, Ohio Regional Director of the Alzheimer’s
Association, said a daily plan could consist of:
·
Social time, such as having tea together or watching the
person’s favorite old shows together
·
Cognitive engagement, such as word search, puzzles or
anything that keeps the mind busy
·
Physical activity, based on ability, like taking walks or
senior sittercise activities
·
Hobby time, which depends on the person’s direct interests
(remember they may need to be modified based on current
abilities)
·
Meal time, which can be important markers in a person’s day
·
Nap time, because it is important to give them time to relax
Caregivers should also remember what times of day the person
functions best, to leave ample times for meals, bathing and
dressing and regular times for waking up and going to bed,
he said.
During this pandemic, written or verbal reminders about
things like the need to wash your hands thoroughly and why
social distancing is important could help everyone in the
household to stay healthy. The National Institute on Aging
suggests the best way to help someone with Alzheimer’s or
dementia take their medicine safely and correctly is to
understand the medicines they take, track the amounts, watch
for side effects, and use pillboxes with alarms that remind
a person to take the medication.
Alzheimer’s disease is a fatal brain disease that cannot be
prevented, cured or slowed. As the disease progresses, the
abilities of the person will change. As that occurs,
creativity, flexibility and problem solving, will be
important as caregivers adapt their daily routine to support
these changes.
One last thing - remember to make time for yourself, or
include the person living with dementia in activities that
you enjoy. As a caregiver, it is important to take care of
yourself so that you can take care of your loved one.
For more information about how to write a plan, go to
https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/daily-care/daily-care-plan.
Myers said, "If you would
like help developing a care plan for your loved one living
with Alzheimer's or dementia, our staff can assist you."
During regular business hours, you can reach the Northwest
Ohio staff by calling 419-537-1999. Help is always available
24/7 at our Helpline 1-800-272-3900.
About the Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end Alzheimer’s
and all other dementia – by accelerating global research,
driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing
quality care and support. Our vision is a world without
Alzheimer's and all other dementia. In Ohio, more
than 600,000 Alzheimer’s caregivers provide care for more
than 220,000 loved ones impacted by Alzheimer’s disease.
Visit alz.org or
call 800.272.3900.
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