Alzheimer’s Care Tips During COVID-19

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Providing Alzheimer’s care for a loved one is hard under the best of scenarios; add in a global pandemic, one that calls for social distancing, masks, and intensive sanitation of both ourselves and the environment, and the challenge may seem insurmountable.

Endeavor In Home Care’s dementia care team provides the following Alzheimer’s care tips to help reduce uneasiness and frustration for those diagnosed with dementia, while keeping both them and their caregivers safe:

  • Be sure to make self-care a priority. Now more than ever, it’s vital that you assess your personal level of stress, and take the appropriate steps to make certain you are in good health – both emotionally and physically. You can only give the best care assistance for your loved one if your own needs are met. This might mean restricting time spent watching the news as well as on social media, maintaining connections with friends and family, and taking time for pleasant, enjoyable hobbies.
  • Focus on hygiene. Proper handwashing techniques are critical for everyone, but may be challenging for individuals with dementia to keep up. Depending on the individual’s stage of the disease, it could be beneficial to wash your hands alongside one another, showing the steps to your loved one; or, position signs beside the sink in the bathroom and kitchen with a message to wash for 20 seconds. And note that repetition, a typical behavior in Alzheimer’s, can work to your advantage in this situation.
  • Select your words carefully. When speaking with a loved one with dementia about changes related to COVID-19, it is critical to keep it straightforward, utilizing a calm and reassuring tone. Beth Kallmyer, Vice President of Care and Support at the Alzheimer’s Association, suggests statements such as, “We have to stay inside because that’s most safe for us, but we’ll do it together. I’ll be with you and we’ll be okay.”
  • Have a backup plan. In case you were identified as having COVID-19 yourself, or any other medical condition which could prevent you from safely providing care for the senior with dementia, it is vital to have a plan set up for who could take over to execute your care responsibilities. A knowledgeable home care agency, such as Endeavor In Home Care, is the perfect choice, with professional aides who are skilled in specialized Alzheimer’s care.

Allow the Phoenix home health care experts at Endeavor In Home Care to help. Our highly skilled Alzheimer’s caregivers are fully trained and experienced in both adhering to proper protocol related to minimizing the risk for contracting coronavirus, as well as in the unique types of care that are most effective for those with dementia. Contact us online or call us at 480-498-2324 for a free in-home assessment. Click here to view our full service area.