Caregiver Information, Helpful Hints, Tips from Other Caregivers

***Are you new to caregiving? Please stop by our office to receive a free Caregiver's Packet.  It is filled with helpful information to make your transition into caregiving a bit smoother.***
 

Helpful Knowledge:  People with Alzheimer's need something to do so that they can continue to feel a sense of accomplishment and self-worth for as long as possible. They need exercise and to enjoy doing something. They need to be able to continue favorite hobbies, artwork, music, or whatever they have enjoyed in the past for as long as they can.  Of course, depending on the stage of the disease, they may not be able to participate in the activities they once enjoyed.  But whatever the stage, like young children, they still need entertaining, something to occupy their hands, and activity.  Just because their disease progresses, their ability to enjoy life remains.

Remember, it doesn't have to be a lot of activity. If they do just small things, and only a little at time, whatever they can do may help. "It often seems that getting the body moving helps cheer a person up...Perhaps she can peel only one potato today. Tomorrow she may feel like doing two. Perhaps she can spade the garden. Even if she spades it for only a few minutes, it may have helped her get moving. If she stops a task after a few minutes, instead of urging her to go on, focus your attention on what she has accomplished and compliment her on that." (The 36-Hour Day, p. 151) 

The following activities are suggested in Practical Guide for Caregivers, compiled by Tamara Johnson which was distributed by the presented at a conference in Huntsville, AL several years ago:

Art:
Clay - Use modeling clay and make objects or animals. Water colors or crayons - free-style water-color/crayons Drawing - Freehand drawing, copy picture, trace a picture, use a template Composite Picture - Cut out favorite pictures from a magazine. Use a common theme, as food, people, pets, antiques, etc. Picture may be decorated with buttons, yarn, etc. Cards - Make cards to send to loved ones on special occasions or any time.
Crafts:
Decorated tee-shirts, decorate bird houses, make holiday seasonal decorations, refrigerator magnets, flower pots, decorate aprons.
Games:
Bingo, board games, puzzles, dominoes, checkers, cards,rolling a ball, nerf basketball, bowling, croquet, junior trivia, dice, dominoes
Gardening:
Root from cuttings/seeds, transplant, bonsai trees or other miniatures, make scrap books with dried wild flowers.
Music DVDs:
tapes/cds, videos/DVDs, sing-a-long, choir-hymns, drums or any musical instrument
Food:
Cut out cookies from dough, decorate cookies, cakes, microwave baking, instant pudding, frozen deserts, "mud": chocolate pudding and cookie in clean clay flower pot and stick plastic flower on top.

Write letters, make cookbooks, photo albums, and memory albums. Caution must be taken to not try to make the person do more than they can do or continue an activity longer than they wish. "Whenever you or someone else initiates an activity for a person with dementia, you must walk a fine line between meaningful activity and over-stressing the person. Move at the confused person's pace. Never let an activity become a test of her abilities; arrange things so that she will succeed. Having fun should be more important than doing something correctly. Stop when the person becomes restless or irritable." (The 36-Hour Day, p. 163.)

Notes, Tips, Hints from our local members and caregivers:

~Bring in pictures cut from magazines that remind the patient of things in the past to spark conversation (old Martha White ads, Jackie O or Elvis pics, etc.)

~Make a "Busy Apron"  You don't have to spend a lot of money and it doesn't have to be an "apron".  It can be a vest, lap board, etc.  Glue or sew on ribbons for braiding, zippers, a keychain mirror, beads in the pocket to take out and "try on", velcro, buttons and snaps to undo and re-do, a small doll with hairbrush for fixing the hair, different type fabrics to feel (especially fabrics from "back in the day").  Here are a few links for purchasing ready-made items or to get ideas for designing your own (scraps, old clothes, and the Dollar Store are great sources for inexpensive tactile items to sew on a lap blanket, etc.).

Apron Ideas
Lap Apron
Fiddle Twiddles
Handyman's Box (great for men)
The Touch Quilt

The day for the Alzheimer's victim is often filled with boredom, obstacles, mistakes and failures resulting from memory lapses.

Activities help.....

raise the quality of life
relieve boredom
provide stimulation
reduce restlessness
raise self-awareness
keep a person more alert

Remember these guidelines when planning activities....

Activities should draw on remaining abilities and knowledge
Select activities which provide cognitive and sensory stimulation and those which entertain
Choose activities which involve very few steps and lead the patient through them one by one
Try to avoid activities that the patient perceives as childish but keep in mind that as the disease advances, children's picture books and games may be used.

Be creative in devising activities and remember that what works today, may not work tomorrow
Don't feel that you have to keep the patient busy all day.
But don't shy away from giving the patient "busy work" if it calms them down and occupies their time.

Leslie Arkmen ACSW (c) copyright 1996

The ARC annual Walk to Remember is held each October.  It is a wonderful time to feel the bond of caregivers, families, and a supportive community.  We encourage you to make plans to participate.  Walk in honor or in memory of someone you know with Alzheimer's or dementia, or walk to show your support of sharing the care.

A special thank you to our past walk chairmen who also served as chairmen for our 15th anniversary walk:

1993-1996 Bob Whiddon
1993-1994 Honorary Chairman, Bill Espy
1997 Nelda Northcutt
1998 David Dennis
1999 Marian Loftin
2000-2001 Lawson and Sherrill Bryan
2002-2004 Barbara Everett
2005 Mike Schmitz
2006 Marty and Alan Clark