The patient/caregiver was educated on coping with behavior patterns in Alzheimer’s patients as follows:
- As the nature of the condition leads to severe frustration and disappointment, Alzheimer’s individuals can often present with lack of motivation. Caregivers must learn to display some understanding of the condition, patience for their loved one, and avoid getting upset & angry with them, as it could lead to the Alzheimer’s patient retracting from others and isolating themselves. The household member with the maximum patience should act as the primary caregiver. Taking care of the Alzheimer’s patient could be a collective family responsibility and the other family members could share the load to avoid a situation of caregiver burnout.
- Always maintain good communication with your loved one. Encourage the Alzheimer’s individual to express themselves. Offer needed cues, time, reassurance, and support to the Alzheimer’s individual. Try keeping the conversations simple and to the point with the Alzheimer’s patient. Avoid all possible arguments and reasonings, which could not be handled with ease by individuals with Alzheimer’s.
- Caregivers must work towards observing compliance with medication intake by the patient, as prescribed, for management of Alzheimer’s. If the patient is independent at medication intake, caregivers can participate in providing timely reminders, filling the weekly pillbox, and checking the pillbox often to make sure of the medication intake. If the patient is dependent on caregiver assistance for medication intake, caregivers must observe compliance with administration of the medication dose on time, as ordered. Compliance with medication intake, as ordered, can contribute to slowing the progression/worsening of the condition. This helps with maintaining the Alzheimer’s patient in functional state longer, thus improving the overall outcome.
