Providing care to a patient suffering from Alzheimer's disease can, at times, be extremely difficult. It is important to remember not to take things personally. If the patient is being physically or verbally abusive towards you, remember that they are suffering from a form of dementia and the behavior is secondary to the disease. Some key tips for providing care to a patient suffering from Alzheimer's disease:
Always be Prepared
Before initiating care, be sure that all supplies are at hand. Have the clothing laid out and the shoes nearby. Check to be sure you have all neccessary items such as towels, soap, toothbrush, comb. If you are going to be giving the patient a bath, be sure the bath is drawn before you bring the patient into the tub room. Frequently, agitation may be caused by the added frustration on the part of the patient, waiting for the caregiver to get their act together. When providing care to a patient suffering from Alzheimer's disease, it is very important to be prepared ahead of time, since you can be sure you often won't have much flexibility once care has begun.
Body Language
Be aware of the signals you are sending through your posture. While patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease may have a diminished cognitive ability, they remain acutely aware of your attitude and approach. Standing with your hands on your hips sends out an agressive message, while an open stance is less threatening. Always approach the patient from the front, whenever possible, to avoid startling them. Most patients respond very well to hugs and smiles. If you are faced with a difficult patient who is refusing care, be sure they are safe, leave them and go back in a few minutes, wearing a smile.
Environment
Persons suffering from dementia will often have a low tolerance for loud noises and too much activity can cause confusion. Your goal as a caregiver is to minimize confusion and agitation for the patient. Sometimes, agitation cannot be prevented or avoided, however, there are steps we can take to minimize the effects. The staff on an Alzheimers unit should be low key and calm.
Also be aware of temperature. If a patient feels too hot or too cold, they may become agitated.
Be aware of your patients' tolerance for group activities. It may be that being put in a room with live (or loud) music playing could be very upsetting to some patients.
Most specialized Alzheimer's units are arranged in a way that minimizes confusion. Busy designs on the carpet may confuse, as will stepping from carpet to bare floor, or vice versa. (To an Alzheimers patient, the different flooring may look like a different depth and they may fear falling.)
Communication
Often, Alzheimer's patients will have severe word finding skills and cognitive decline. This causes extreme frustration to the patient and we, as caregivers, should try to facilitate communication to the best of our ability. Speak to the patient in a calm voice. Never yell or speak in a condescending tone. Do speak clearly, and try to keep your sentences short and to the point. Try not to ask too many questions, as this causes frustration when the patient is unable to answer. Instead of asking a lot of questions about the patient's past, (this often causes frustration and anger when the patient cannot recall important information) it may be a good idea to read their chart. The social service section of their medical chart should provide a background history.
While providing care, be sure to tell the patient each step you are taking, such as, "Now I'm going to comb your hair." Announcing each move will minimize anxiety for the patient and will help things go more smoothly. While providing care, do not give multiple commands. For example, don't say "Stand up, pull up your pants and let's go wash your hands." Too much information! Instead, cue your patient step by step.
Be careful of the way you phrase things. Always try to avoid negatives. If a patient is doing something inappropriate, try distracting them instead of saying "No" or focusing on the behavior itself, which may spark a catastrophic reaction.
Dignity
Alzheimer's patients many times feel as if they have lost control of their lives and their person. Give the patient as much independance as possible by allowing them to do as much for themselves as possible. Don't do for them what they are able to do for themselves, or you will be robbing them of their last bits of independance.
Speak to your patients with respect. They are people with feelings and emotions, just like you. No one would want to be scolded for "making a mess". Although many patients appear so severely demented you may doubt they understand what you're saying, the truth is, you don't know WHAT they are understanding, so be kind.
When providing care to an Alzheimer's patient the key points to remember are :
Anticipate the patient's needs,
Ensure the patient's safety
and
Maintain the patient's dignity.
...Smiles go a long way!
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