Thousands of Australians are impacted by Alzheimer’s Disease, and the number is growing. As such, you may well find yourself caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s or at least, becoming an integral part of their wider healthcare support team.
Caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s can involve providing daily assistance and it’s essential to know effective methods for managing their needs. Not only does this help the person you are caring for, it creates a manageable routine all parties can benefit from, preserving your own mental wellness. Remember, looking after someone also means looking after yourself, too!
In this article, you will find information about Alzheimer’s disease, common symptoms, and valuable tips about caring for someone with Alzheimer’s to help retain their health and well-being – and yours.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease primarily experienced by older individuals that affect memory, thoughts, and behaviour through brain atrophy (shrinking), resulting in brain cell death. Alzheimer’s is the most common and well-known type of dementia.
Increasing age is the biggest risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s, with an estimated 3 in 10 people aged 85 and over living with the disease. Yet in the cases of Sporadic Alzheimer’s and Familial Alzheimer’s, some people in care experience the disease at a much younger age (onset less than 65 years old.)
With such high prevalence of the disease, it is likely that someone older in your life is experiencing or will one day experience Alzheimer’s, making it critical to learn about it and know what signs to look out for – particularly if you are caring for an older family member.
Alzheimer’s vs Dementia: What’s the Difference?
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same.
Dementia is an umbrella term that refers to a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities, which interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-70% of cases. Alzheimer’s specifically impacts brain cells, leading to memory loss, confusion, and changes in behaviour. While everyone with Alzheimer’s has dementia, not all individuals with dementia have Alzheimer’s. There are other types of dementia, like vascular dementia or frontotemporal dementia.
Understanding the Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease
It can be distressing to learn of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, but it is important to familiarise yourself with the reality of the disease to best support the person living with Alzheimer’s.
As the disease progresses, Alzheimer’s symptoms worsen. All new or increased symptoms bring new challenges for caregivers. A greater understanding of symptom guides and timelines allow carers to plan for inevitable symptom progressions.
Alzheimer’s disease is often described in three broad stages: mild, moderate, and severe (or early, middle and late).
Mild Alzheimer’s
In the mild or early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, a person can still go about their life independently, and participate in professional, social, and daily activities.
Early Alzheimer’s symptoms include an inability to concentrate, foggy memories about recent events, forgetting certain names or words, and having difficulty with writing and problem solving.
Moderate Alzheimer’s
In the moderate stage of Alzheimer’s disease, a person begins to suffer significant memory loss, confusion and many physical symptoms.
Common symptoms at the moderate stage of Alzheimer’s include:
- Difficulty with recognition of family members and close friends
- Difficulty with organisation or following instructions
- Struggling with regular daily tasks, such as dressing oneself
- Sleeping troubles or restlessness
- Wandering or losing their way
- Incontinence, either urinary or faecal
- Personality changes, such as lack of emotional regulation, depression, or outbursts
Severe Alzheimer’s
In severe Alzheimer’s – the final stage of Alzheimer’s disease – people require help with almost all basic daily activities, including sitting up, eating, and walking.
During this stage, people living with Alzheimer’s may have complete loss of the ability to converse, as well as difficulty chewing or swallowing.
It is also possible that they may lose total awareness of their environment and family members.
What Are the 7 Stages of Alzheimer’s?
The broader stages of Alzheimer’s are useful for everyday understanding of the disease.
Many professionals refer to the more detailed progression of Alzheimer’s known as the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), which was developed by Dr. Barry Reisberg. You might hear this referred to as the 7 stages of Alzheimer’s.
Stage 1: No Impairment – No noticeable symptoms; normal cognitive function.
Stage 2: Very Mild Decline – Occasional forgetfulness, but no clear signs of dementia.
Stage 3: Mild Decline – Subtle memory lapses and difficulty with planning or problem-solving.
Stage 4: Moderate Decline – Clear memory issues, trouble handling finances, and increased confusion.
Stage 5: Moderately Severe Decline – Needs help with daily tasks and struggles with personal details.
Stage 6: Severe Decline – Requires full-time care, may forget loved ones, and experience personality changes.
Stage 7: Very Severe Decline – Loss of speech, mobility, and awareness; fully dependent on caregivers.
A Strategy for Alzheimer’s Care at Home
Many people with Alzheimer’s disease continue to live at home for much of their journey, often with support from family members or loved ones playing a crucial role in ensuring their comfort and well-being.
If you are tasked with supporting a loved one in this situation, here are some tips on caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Create a Routine
Establishing a daily routine will increase the comfort of the person in care, as it reinforces a sense of stability and familiarity for the person living with Alzheimer’s.
Try to avoid any significant changes to the established routine, as this can be distressing or confusing for someone.
When changes are unavoidable, such as switching care settings, it’s best to gradually introduce the change so that the individual with Alzheimer’s can adjust to the new people and places they will encounter.
Do Activities Together
As part of the routine, caregivers can spend time with their loved ones and keep them engaged with a range of activities, such as:
- Exercises, such as walking, light weight training, and stretching
- Dancing
- Playing their favourite music
- Cooking and baking
- Outings to a favourite place, such as a museum, park, or restaurant
- Gardening
- Seeing a movie
- Visiting friends and family
- Playing a straightforward board game, such as Go Fish.
When planning outings, it’s best to account for when the person in care is most active and alert.
These times vary from individual to individual: Some take their time to gain energy and become alert over the day, while others awaken at their brightest. Caregivers can discern what works for their loved ones by observing energy levels during and after an outing to avoid overburdening them.
It might be handy to create small business cards to discreetly inform others, like service workers, about the person’s living conditions.
The card may say something along the lines of “My loved one has Alzheimer’s disease and may say or do things unexpectedly. Thank you for your understanding.”
Maintain Connections with Others
The ability to communicate is often significantly impacted when a person has Alzheimer’s disease. People may forget their thought process halfway through a sentence, or struggle to interpret or remember specific words.
Try using the following strategies to improve communication:
- Maintaining eye contact and smiling
- Using open and relaxed body language
- Asking a single question at a time
- Use the affected person’s name
- Speak with a kind, calm tone; do not use oversimplifications or baby talk
- Remember that if the person experiences an angry outburst, it is the result of the disease, not the person.
Communication ensures that the person living with Alzheimer’s maintains a feeling of closeness with their friends and family, while also having the chance to participate in more conversations and activities. For the caregiver, communication may provide a reprieve from the pressure of looking after someone they love.
Promote Eating Well and Often
It is important to maintain a healthy diet and proper hydration for people living with Alzheimer’s. Weight loss is a common side effect of Alzheimer’s and affected persons may not eat properly because they:
- Forget when they last ate
- Forget how to cook
- Have become disinterested in eating because they eat the same foods everyday
- Have become unaware of mealtimes
- Have lost the ability to smell and taste foods
- Have difficulty chewing and swallowing.
You can ensure they enjoy enough nutrient-dense food each day by:
- Serving food at the same time everyday
- Serving food on bright coloured plates to help highlight the food
- Serve large portions at breakfast
- Provide them with a multivitamin
- Provide them with small, easy to eat foods such as fruit, cheese, or finger sandwiches
- Separate eating time from entertainment time: Keep the dining room quiet so they focus on completing their meal
- Make food that is easy to chew and swallow.
Work on Improving Confidence
Living with Alzheimer’s can cause anxiety, which in turn impacts the affected person’s self-esteem and confidence.
Assisting someone with their hygiene and grooming encourages that person to feel “more like themselves”.
You can:
- Brush your teeth at the same time they brush theirs
- Help to apply makeup if they usually wear it (no eye makeup)
- Encourage or help a person shave if they typically do so
- Keep their nails trimmed
- Allow extra time for dressing and hygiene in the morning and evening
- Choose which outfits to wear and lay them out in order of dressing
- Buy loose and comfortable clothing for them
- Buy clothing with Velcro or zippers instead of laces and buttons.
Small changes such as these make a huge difference in how the person looks and feels about themselves.
Avoid Everyday Risks for Accidents or Injury
People living with Alzheimer’s often feel discomfort or fear in everyday situations. Whether they feel unsafe or are in actual danger, it is important to understand that you can assist them in feeling safe.
An individual with Alzheimer’s may be unsure how to interpret ‘wet floor’ signs or navigate from one type of flooring to another, such as between carpet and hardwood.
You can help them by:
- Ensuring they have and wear sturdy, comfortable shoes
- Applying brightly coloured tape to the edge of steps
- Padding sharp corners on furniture
- Limiting mirrors in the home
- Putting ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ stickers on or near taps
- Installing safety locks on the stove
- Ensuring they take their medication correctly.
Help the Person Keep their Pets
Older people benefit greatly from having a pet. Animals show love and companionship for someone with Alzheimer’s. Cats, dogs, or other pets are manageable during the early stages and a positive chance for the person to remain active.
When it becomes difficult for the person to care for their pet, you can assist by asking neighbours or friends to help look after their walks and feeding times.
How Long Do People with Alzheimer’s Live?
Alzheimer’s stages and life expectancy can vary widely depending on factors like age, overall health, and the stage at which the disease is diagnosed. On average, individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s live between 4 to 8 years after the onset of symptoms, but some can live up to 20 years, especially if diagnosed earlier and with good overall health management.
As the disease progresses, it becomes harder for the individual to care for themselves, and complications from Alzheimer’s, such as infections or organ failure, may affect their life expectancy.
How to Stay Healthy When Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s
Caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s disease will require more care as their condition progresses, and it’s imperative to know what is reasonable within your own capacity and seek professional help when necessary.
For example, you may need assistance performing physically demanding tasks, such as bathing or moving a person. As a caregiver, it’s quite acceptable and encouraged to seek professional help to ensure your loved one receives the support they need.
Professional carers are a worthwhile option, especially if the person with Alzheimer’s:
- Needs full-time assistance with daily and personal activities
- Can no longer walk
- Experiences seizures
- Suffers significant weight loss
- Falls or experiences other injuries
- Experiences periods of depression, anxiety, or agitation
- Wanders away or gets lost often.
Remember, when looking after someone with Alzheimer’s disease, self-care is critical – that means you need to look after yourself too! Experiencing chronic stress, fatigue, or depression are common adverse health effects for family caregivers and detrimental to your health. If you begin to feel ill when caring for someone, physically or mentally, you will not be in a fit state to care for them.
Ideally, try to divide up the time that you spend caring for the person with Alzheimer’s so that you have time to rest and be your best self with them. After all, they will enjoy your company much more if you are rejuvenated with them.
Are you caring for someone with Alzheimer’s and need support? Asking for help is a sign of strength. Contact the professional and caring team at Vital and have a chat with our team about your needs – our Alzheimer’s carers are always here to help!
