Dementia & Alzheimer's Disease
Modify Environment | Go Along | Use Distraction | Challenging Behavior | Plan Activities | Communicate with Respect | Share Joys | Eat Well | Check the Locks | Safe Return | Quiet Evenings

All Dementia & Alzheimer's Disease Tips

Modify the environment.

Perhaps your wife becomes agitated every time she sees herself in a mirror, thinking it is a stranger.

Removing the mirrors from the rooms where she normally goes so she doesn't see herself might just do the trick.

Go along.

It doesn't matter if your dad thinks today is Monday or not.

Pick your battles and take on something only if it poses a safety concern.

Use distraction.

Your husband has always had a stubborn streak and nothing has changed now that he has dementia.

Try distracting him with things he really likes to do. Often you can manage his behavior without getting into a conflict.

Maybe he wants to 'go to the grocery store.' Offer to make him a hot fudge sundae and tell him you have everything you need without going to the store.

This might just distract him so he forgets about the store.

Identify the underlying need behind challenging behaviors.

Can't figure out why your mother keeps going to the bathroom?

Get her a check-up with her doctor. Perhaps she has a urinary tract infection and needs antibiotics.

Plan activities.

Remember that big windstorm that knocked down lots of small branches recently? Leave them until you really need to distract your husband, and then get him out there! He has always enjoyed yard work and can be happy and engaged for hours.

Make simple activities part of the daily routine. Try to do the activities at a similar time each day.

Simple & familiar activities are best.

• Help your wife get started on the activity.
• Break the activity down into small steps.
• Offer praise for each step completed.
• Watch for signs of agitation or frustration with an activity. Gently help, or distract her to something else.

Communicate with respect and care.

Use simple words, short sentences, and a gentle, calm tone of voice.

Avoid talking as if your husband weren't there.

Call your husband by name and make sure you have his attention before speaking.

Frame questions and instructions in a positive way and allow enough time for a response.

Share joys.

Think about ways to bring pleasure and joy to someone with dementia.

• What type of music did your wife like to listen to?
• What food did she like?
• Did she like to visit the ocean?
• Did she like to hear you sing? Or play the piano?
• Did she like to watch television?

Eat well.

Some people with Alzheimer's want to eat all the time, while others have to be encouraged to maintain a good diet.

• Ensure a quiet, calm atmosphere for eating to help your husband focus on the meal.
• Provide a limited number of choices and serve small portions.
• Use straws or cups with lids to make drinking easier.
• Substitute finger foods if your wife struggles with the utensils. Using a bowl instead of a plate also can help.
• Have healthy snacks on hand and keep them in sight to encourage snacking.
• Visit the dentist regularly to keep mouth and teeth healthy.

Check the locks.

Remove the locks on bathroom doors to prevent your husband from accidentally locking himself in.

Secure potentially dangerous items, both inside and outside the house.

• Use childproof latches on kitchen cabinets and any place where cleaning supplies or other chemicals are kept.
• Label medications and keep them locked up.
• Secure knives, lighters, matches, guns, etc.
• If your husband is prone to wandering, install secure locks on all outside windows and doors.

Safe return.

If your dad or mom is prone to wandering, register them with the Alzheimer's Association's Safe Return program.

Safe Return is a national, government-funded program of the Alzheimer's Association that assists in the identification and safe, timely return of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias who wander off, sometimes far from home, and become lost.

Quiet evenings.

Set a quiet, peaceful tone in the evening to encourage sleep.

As bedtime approaches, dim the lights, eliminate loud noises, even play soothing music if your husband seems to enjoy it.

Develop a bedtime routine that occurs at about the same time each evening.

Encourage exercise during the day and limit daytime napping.

Restrict access to caffeine late in the day.

Use nightlights in the bedroom, hall, and bathroom if the darkness is frightening or disorienting.