Health and Fitness

How to Help Patients with Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer
Written by Lisa Scholfield

With the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease projected to triple by 2050, it’s imperative that healthcare professionals understand how to help patients with Alzheimer’s. By working with your patients to create a plan for their care at home and identifying trusted caregivers, you can take steps toward helping them find an advanced treatment option. It goes without saying that we have millions of professionals and researchers working in the area of nanotechnology and trying to find the most effective methods, nanomedicines, or nanoparticles that can help patients suffering from this illness. If you don’t know anyone who has had this diagnosis or are not sure how to help your patient, here are some tips for dealing with Alzheimer’s.

Establish a plan for care at home

The sooner you can help your patient understand what to expect at home, the better. Talk to a doctor to find the most effective Alzheimer’s disease treatment plan. Share information about what happens during the course of Alzheimer’s disease so your patient can plan accordingly. You might want to recommend that your patient read books about Alzheimer’s disease or talk with other people living with this condition. Having an open dialogue about Alzheimer’s can help shed light on what your patient can expect in the future.

Create a caregiver team

It’s important to identify whom your patient can rely on for support at home. You might want to include family members and friends who are close to your patient in this group. You can also help your patient connect with other people living with Alzheimer’s disease. When choosing caregivers, it might be helpful to consider these factors:

  • Does the person have experience with dementia care?
  • What types of dementia have they dealt with?
  • What is their approach to care?
  • Does the person have the desire and ability to help?
  • Is he or she willing to spend a significant amount of time with your patient?

Help your patient navigate emotions

It goes without saying that you want to find the most effective chronic diseases treatment. However, you should also remember that you can take some steps to help your loved one. Alzheimer’s disease can trigger sadness, fear, and frustration. You might want to encourage your patient to write in a journal or talk with a counselor about these emotions. You can also help your patient identify ways to cope with negative emotions like anger and frustration.

Help your patient stay active and engaged

Doing crossword puzzles, playing card games, and engaging in creative activities can help your patient stay active. In addition to scheduling daily activities, you can help your patient build social connections. You can encourage your patient to go to lunch with friends, join a book club, or go to a senior center. Having connections with people can help your patient feel less isolated and frustrated. Don’t forget to consult a doctor regularly to find the most effective treatment plan for chronic diseases.

Conclusion

Whether you are looking for Alzheimer’s or diabetes treatment, you should remember that both illnesses are degenerative conditions that worsen over time. We hope that new treatments will come very soon, but it’s important to start helping your patient prepare for the journey ahead as soon as possible. When you help your patients create a plan for care at home, create social connections, and find ways to cope with negative emotions, you can take steps toward helping them cope with Alzheimer’s disease.

About the author

Lisa Scholfield