{"id":4712,"date":"2019-02-26T00:50:01","date_gmt":"2019-02-26T00:50:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/course.oeru.org\/llwd100\/?page_id=4712"},"modified":"2019-02-26T00:50:01","modified_gmt":"2019-02-26T00:50:01","slug":"tips-for-caregivers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/course.oeru.org\/llwd100\/learning-pathways\/tools-part-1\/tips-for-caregivers\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for caregivers"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

10 Simple Tips\n<\/p>\n

1) Start with a Good Feeling Each Day<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Peace<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

Caregivers have a profound influence on the emotional state of individuals with Alzheimer\u2019s\n<\/p>\n

2) Enjoy Reminiscence Therapy<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Thinking.JPG\"<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
 \n<\/td>\n\u201cReminiscence Therapy\u201d in dementia takes advantage of strong long-term memories in people with early or mid-stage dementia. Steering clear of short-term memories and reinvigorating long-term memories in Alzheimer\u2019s patients takes advantage of powerful and emotional ties to the past.\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

3) Communicate More<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Let's<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Center yourself. As soon as you start to get upset or frustrated, stop and concentrate on taking deep, slow breaths while focusing on something that makes you feel calm and collected\n<\/li>\n
  2. Use empathy. Using empathy to connect includes focusing on the experience of your loved one with memory loss. It is important to connect with their feelings, rather than the context of their words.\n<\/li>\n
  3. Ask open questions. Use open-ended questions to redirect the conversation and to show that you\u2019re interested in exploring what is important to them. For example, if your loved one is insisting on visiting their deceased mother, rather than reminding them that she passed away, ask her to tell you about her mother and listen with empathy as she expresses her feelings\n<\/li>\n
  4. Try asking the extreme. Asking the extreme means that you ask the person to tell you the best or worst thing about what they are expressing.\n<\/li>\n
  5. Enter their reality. Unless your loved one is in the very early stage of memory loss and wants to be reminded of a date, time or other reality based topic, join their journey rather than force reality on them.\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    4) Add Bright Lights<\/span><\/h3>\n

    \"Lightbulb<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

    A down-to-earth Alzheimer\u2019s trial provided 4 weeks of tailored light therapy.\n<\/p>\n

    The therapy significantly increased sleep quality,efficiency & total sleep duration. Daytime light therapy also significantly reduced rates of depression & agitation.\n<\/p>\n

    5) Prepare Midnight Munchies<\/span><\/h3>\n

    \"Food<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

    People living with dementia often have the need to be awake at night. This can cause great concern for safety issues for caregivers. Ie: about falls, leaving the house\n<\/p>\n

    A facility in NY found the solution. Giving a nutritious snack allowed the person to  calm and relax and return to bed\n<\/p>\n

    6) Ask Medication Questions<\/span><\/h3>\n

    \"Question<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

    People with Alzheimer\u2019s take a lot of medicine. Some boost memory and cognition. Others help mood, behavior and other conditions. Ensure medication is taken safely and correctly!\n<\/p>\n

    Learn the Basics\n<\/p>\n

    Know each medicine (prescription & over-the-counter).\n<\/p>\n

    Ask the doctor or pharmacist:<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Why is this medicine being used?\n<\/li>\n
    2. What positive effects should I look for? When?\n<\/li>\n
    3. How long will the person need to take it?\n<\/li>\n
    4. How much should he or she take each day?\n<\/li>\n
    5. When does the person need to take it?\n<\/li>\n
    6. What if the person misses a dose?\n<\/li>\n
    7. What are the side effects? What can I do about them?\n<\/li>\n
    8. Can this medicine cause problems if taken with other medications?\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      7) Diet Right<\/span><\/h3>\n

      \"Correct.png\"<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      DR. JAMES DUKE, FORMER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE(USDA) CHIEF OF MEDICINAL PLANT RESEARCH.<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

      A diet that keep your heart healthy will also keep your brain healthy. Many Doctors, Dieticians and Scientists recommend a Mediterranean diet.\n<\/p>\n