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All Posts Tagged: self-care

Self-Care as an Alzheimer’s Patient

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An Alzheimer’s diagnosis is life-changing in many ways. Patients will endure memory loss, changes in the ability to communicate, difficulties processing language, emotional and psychological challenges, and physical symptoms. Individuals with Alzheimer’s must adapt to increased difficulty completing everyday tasks and an increase in dependency. Feelings of anger, fear, and helplessness are normal when facing the prospect of a radical shift in your day-to-day experience of the world. With this in mind, it’s essential to be proactive in adapting yourself to the changes you’re experiencing. By preparing yourself for the effects of Alzheimer’s and making a plan for coping with them, you can take charge of your care.

An essential component of dealing with the challenges presented by Alzheimer’s is accepting the changes that will occur. Daily tasks will become harder, and many things that were once second-nature will become difficult and frustrating. Instead of denying your struggles, accept the change in your abilities. Your acknowledgment of change will help you to adapt, create strategies to maintain your independence, and improve the quality of your life. It is not easy to accept that your memory is declining, however, doing so can help you to discover coping techniques that will make life easier.

Memory loss is among the most stressful aspects of Alzheimer’s. Coming up with strategies to help you compensate for difficulty remembering things can be helpful. Using notes to remind yourself of important information, maintaining a predictable daily routine, and arranging objects so that you can remember their location are all ways of staying organized. It’s also important to surround yourself with people you can trust. Although it can be difficult to ask for help, reaching out to close friends and family members is essential for your safety and well-being. When certain tasks become too difficult or if you have trouble remembering crucial information, allowing someone to assist you can dramatically reduce stress and increase your peace of mind.

Edison Home Health Care is happy to advise and assist you or any loved one who seek appropriate care of Alzheimer’s disease. Give us a call at 888-311-1142, or fill out a contact form and we will respond shortly.

Alzheimer Home Care New York

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Coping with Emotional Aspects of Dementia

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Individuals suffering from dementia must cope with many changes at once including declining cognitive abilities, memory loss, and impaired communication skills. Knowing that one may experience these vast changes at an unpredictable rate can provoke anxiety, fear, and feelings of helplessness. In order for patients to maintain a good quality of life, it is essential to address unresolved feelings.

Those with Alzheimer’s face crucial and stressful decisions concerning their care. Considerations such as how to preserve physical health and independence can potentially lead to tension between patients and their caregivers. The course of action taken by family members and physicians may differ from the wishes of the person with dementia. This process can be overwhelming, emotionally draining, and humiliating for the patient. In order to avoid negative emotions and reactions, patients need a coping strategy with different outlets to express emotions.

Discussing feelings with a confidant is one of the best ways to help sort out emotions. Simply sharing worries with a loved one can immediately alleviate a sense of helplessness and provide comfort. Maintaining relationships and having a social life makes patients feel less alone. Being connected to other individuals suffering from the disease allows patients to feel supported and understood. Continuing to take part in enjoyable activities – walking, listening to music, gardening, painting, or other physical or creative interests – can also be tremendously beneficial in reducing stress and coping with burdens. The resonating idea is that dementia patients need to feel that their life has value.

Edison Home Health Care is happy to advise and assist you or any loved one who seek appropriate care of Dementia problems. Give us a call at 888-311-1142, or fill out a contact form and we will respond shortly.

Dementia Home Care New York

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Pursuing a Healthy and Meaningful Lifestyle with Dementia

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Dementia not only affects the memory, speech and personality of those who suffer from it, but also their ability to function independently. It can be challenging for patients, family members, friends and caregivers to cope with the changes caused by Alzheimer’s. In addition to finding a suitable medical provider, treatment options and caregiving assistance, individuals with dementia must take steps to maintain quality of life and alleviate the difficult aspects of the disease.

Self-care is an essential part of any Alzheimer’s care plan as there are many things people suffering from Alzheimer’s can do to help themselves. Encouraging Alzheimer’s patients to be proactive when it comes to their health and wellbeing can slow the progression of the disease and prolong their ability to function with a measure of independence. It starts with physical health: eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and learning new information to stimulate the brain can help improve mood, lead to better sleep, and increase blood and oxygen flow to brain cells.

Emotional and psychological health is also vital for patients. A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can trigger a range of emotions including anxiety, anger, fear and sadness. Discussing feelings with a confidant is a great way of coping with the disease and prevent depression. In addition, one can connect with others living with the disease and maintain close relationships for emotional support and to stay socially engaged. Participating in activities such as reading, listening to music, creating art, playing games, spending time with family and attending religious services all help foster a sense of meaning and purpose to one’s life. The most important aspect one can gain from taking these measures is developing and preserving a strong sense of personal worth.

Edison Home Health Care is happy to advise and assist you or any loved one who seek appropriate care of Dementia problems. Give us a call at 888-311-1142, or fill out a contact form and we will respond shortly.

Dementia Home Care New York

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