When you’re a new caregiver helping your elderly family member manage Alzheimer’s disease, you can feel as out of place as she does with her new diagnosis. Understanding as much as you can about the earliest stages of this illness can help you.
Her Safety Is Most Important
Most of your decisions from here on out are going to focus on how safe your elderly family member is at any given moment. If something is risky for her personally, then it’s time for you to become a little bit more involved.
Let Her Try Things First
When it comes to daily activities, it’s better to let your elderly family member try them on her own first. She may start to have difficulty with some of the tasks that she’s always done, but it can be upsetting for her to have you take over too soon.
Set up a System Your Senior Can Use to Ask for Help
That said, she may indeed need or want your help at some point. Work out a system with your aging family member that allows you to know for sure that she wants you to step in. It can be as simple as waiting for the phrase “Help me, please” or it can be a little more subtle. This allows your elderly family member to get help but to save a bit of face.
Talk to Your Aging Adult Regularly
Communication is so important at this stage. Talk regularly with your aging adult about what she expects from you and what you can and are able to do for her. Having these regular conversations allows you to focus on what is working and what isn’t so that you can make adjustments wherever necessary.
Get Extra Help
It’s really never too early to get some extra help from people who have experience helping aging adults who have Alzheimer’s disease. Senior care providers know what to expect and they can help you to come up with strategies and tools that can help your elderly family member the most.
As you and your elderly family member learn what it’s like for her to navigate Alzheimer’s disease, you’ll both find your footing.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Caregiver Services in North Miami FL, contact the caring staff at Providence Healthcare Services. We provide services in all of Miami Dade county and the Upper Keys. Call today (305) 680-5349.
