Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s: Support Groups, Approach and Techniques
Dementia caregivers face unique challenges. They are often so focused on multiple tasks that caring for someone with Alzheimer’s becomes a stressful and high pressure responsibility. So, it is critical to find ways to maintain a sense of balance.
In this episode of the Sixty and Me show, my guest, Lori La Bey, and I discuss how to build a relationship with your patient that allows them to maintain a sense of purpose. We also talk about how to get the support that you need to be a successful caregiver.
Lori is a well-known Alzheimer’s and dementia expert and an advocate for caregivers and patients alike. In our interview, Lori shares how her experience with her mother’s Alzheimer’s taught her to see the disease in an entirely new way. She talks about some of the gifts that her mother gave her, including how to play and laugh deeply, no matter how difficult the situation becomes.
We also discuss some of the most common questions that Alzheimer’s caregivers have, like how to react when a patient doesn’t remember your name. If you are an Alzheimer’s caregiver and feel like you need a little extra support, this episode of the Sixty and Me Show is for you!
Join Lori and I as we discuss the following topics:
- How can we look after someone in the early stages of dementia?
- What is the best way to deal with Alzheimer’s symptoms like memory loss?
- What are the qualities of a successful Alzheimer’s caregiver?
- What should caregivers avoid when helping someone who is living with dementia?
- What activities are recommended for people with Alzheimer’s?
- Where can we find great support groups for both caregivers and patients?
As Lori says, the conversation about Alzheimer’s and dementia does not have to be negative and frightening. By reaching out for help and understanding the correct approach to take with a patient, the experience can be life affirming and even positive.
I also encourage you to check out Lori’s website and other resources, which are designed to help caregivers to deal with dementia and Alzheimer’s in a positive way.
Do you have any advice for the other women in the Sixty and Me community helping someone living with Alzheimer’s or dementia? Which support resources were useful for you? Please add your thoughts in the comments below.
