As a care partner for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, you have a great deal of responsibility on your shoulders. You also have an opportunity. You can provide the critical support your loved one needs in the home. Here are a few strategies to help prevent them from becoming agitated and hard to calm.
Creating a calm environment in the home is paramount, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. You’ll want to minimize the factors that can trigger agitation, like noise and glare.
For example, it might not bother you if the television is on in the background. But even at low volume, that noise and light can be distracting and agitating to a person with Alzheimer’s. You might also ensure your loved one has easy access to objects that comfort them.
Because people with Alzheimer’s sometimes have trouble communicating their needs, you may need to monitor their comfort.
For example, keep an eye on the temperature in the home to ensure it’s not too warm or too cool for them. Ensure you’re aware of their toileting needs, too, so you don’t miss an accident or something else that could be distressing to them.
When a person with Alzheimer’s disease has difficulty making sense of something or confronting new information, they can become confused and agitated. Schedules can be comforting to them.
They know what to expect, which helps them feel more grounded. You can help your loved one establish a daily routine. Create a schedule that includes all the tasks they need to do. Sticking with the same order daily is best so they don’t have to determine what to do and when.
The Alzheimer’s Association also recommends that you find ways to channel your loved one’s energy. A great way to do that is to go for a walk. You could even make a daily walk part of their schedule. Plus, the physical activity may help you, too.
If you’re worried your loved one’s agitation seems to be getting worse, contact their healthcare team.
Their doctor might want to investigate whether their medication is causing side effects or if there may be some other physical cause for the increased agitation. It might also be time to consider a new treatment for the agitation. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an atypical antipsychotic medication called brexpiprazole for treating agitation in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Caring for a loved one who has a progressive disease like Alzheimer’s can be challenging, even on the best days. Because burnout can happen, experts strongly recommend that caregivers not neglect themselves.
Short breaks during the day can help, but you may need to take some time off to rest and care for your health and needs. This may require you to involve other people.
A few options that you could investigate include:
- Hire some part-time in-home care to help your loved one.
- Take your loved one to an adult day care for a few hours.
- Arrange for short-term respite care in the home.
One advantage of using these types of services is that the staff are trained and experienced in working with people with Alzheimer’s disease, so they’ll be familiar with issues like agitation triggers. However, you’ll still want to address those concerns before you turn over care to them.
At some point, your loved ones’ needs may change — or your ability to care for them, especially if they become agitated more often, may change. Don’t be afraid to revisit your situation if you need to adjust what you’re doing to meet both of your needs. Your loved one’s doctor might have some helpful suggestions, too.