what are ten simple ways to help an alzheimer's family?

Answer 1

Are you talking about a family with a member afflicted with Alzheimer's, or are you talking about an entire family of Alzheimer's patients?? If it's a family with a person affected by Alzheimer's, then I would suggest you provide them with simple activities for the person to do - sometimes Alzheimer's patients can be occupied (and safe) for hours with something as simple as sorting a deck of cards, raking the yard, putting together a puzzle, etc. I would also suggest making a "memory book" for things that were important to the person affected during their lives that they can't remember anymore - just the happy stuff, because telling a person who has Alzheimer's that someone died ten years ago is like telling them it happened today. Also, taking day trips (not extended vacations) can be really beneficial to everyone, as long as there are no large crowds involved - things like going to the beach, or for a picnic, or even to a museum, since a person with Alzheimer's is most likely older.

Answer 2

Create a photo album of old pictures for the person with the illness. family members will find it soothing to go through the album with their ill family member when their short term memory fails.

Provide meals: most caregivers in the family are too busy and cooking is one less thing to do. Eating well goes out the window in favor of convenience. Your reheated home cooking will win over a TV dinner any day.

Put together a visitors kit: with Kleenex, shaving cream (to clean up messes- its better than soap and water because it is non-sticky and less messy), baby wipes, breath mints, non-perishable snacks, and soothing music familiar to the ill family member in the form of a CD or other convenient medium and a soft throw or shawl. Its surprising how often I need these things close at hand.

A journal - for a family member to write down feelings and memories of the deterioration. There will be good days and bad days, but in the end, this is a long goodbye, and a journal is a good place to process feelings of grief.

Baby safety items: guards for door handles, windows, electric outlets, locks for drawers with sharp items or potential poisons.

A baby monitor. So that if the ill parent gets up wandering around in the night, you can hear them and get out there before something bad happens.

A massage for the caregiver. And a "babysitter" so the caregiver won't worry while trying to relax.

A planner for the caregiver- to keep track of all the doctors appointments, medications, family addresses...

A lost and found kit: include- A fingerprint kit from the police station - if you are close to the family and they won't freak out.
An instant camera to take current pictures to use if the ill family member wanders off and you need to show pics to authorities.
An emergency medical bracket - this tells the main doctor and any allergies or medications. You can find these custom made on line.

OK - I am out of ideas.
Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Time and money.
My dad's medicines cost between $400 and $600 a month and Medicare doesn't cover the whole year's worth. These are all new drugs, not available in generic. Medicare also don't cover 100% of all his other medical expenses. My mom can't work because she has to take care of him 24/7 and she's not old enough to retire so they are living on my dad's meager social security and their savings. (My dad was diagnosed young, only 63 so his Social Security is very low since he retired early.)
My mom literally cannot leave my father alone. Last night I had to stay with him so she could go Christmas shopping after she tried to take him and he had a melt-down and started yelling in the middle of Target.
A gift certificate to their favorite restaurant or grocery store and an offer of a few hours of my time so my mom can have some "alone" time are worth more than gold.