Alzheimer’s disease is the single most cause of dementia. Starting with memory loss, this form of dementia gradually affects a person’s judgment, language and communication skills, and other day-to-day activities.
Even seemingly mundane daily activities like bathing and dressing become difficult to remember in the advanced stages of the disease — so it comes as no surprise that the COVID-19 pandemic might have some unexpected consequences for people who may not be able to remember what's going on in the world right now.
How do big global changes affect people with Alzheimer's and dementia?
COVID-19 emerged suddenly and spread across the world more quickly than most of us have truly been able to comprehend. While COVID-19 has upended all our lives, the pandemic has been particularly hard on seniors.
Yes, the pandemic has affected seniors in some immediately obvious ways — they fall into one of the most significant risk groups already and, often relying on daily care from others, senior citizens continuously risk being exposed to the virus.
Some Alzheimer’s patients are riding the pandemic out in senior care centers, away from their family and familiar surroundings, and even having to adjust to different caregivers. Seniors are being told their lives are at risk and many have watched their friends/family pass away, and can have a really hard time understanding that their loved ones cannot even come to see them.
In some cases, someone with dementia will vividly talk about the experiences they had when they were younger and be very interesting conversational partners if you would like to have philosophical discussions — but they will be unable to remember something they watched on the news yesterday, or even a few hours ago.
To help a loved with Alzheimer's or dementia remember curfews or social distancing measures, post notes near the front door and in other visible places to remind them to wash their hands, wear masks, or not go outside.
Alzheimer’s, sudden life changes, and the importance of positivity
Over time, as places and names become unfamiliar, even those of the near and dear ones, it is but natural for an Alzheimer’s patient to get stressed, disoriented, or even force themselves into social isolation.
It is important to create and maintain a positive environment around people with Alzheimer's disease, helping them cope better with the situation, and making their day to day activities as comfortable as possible.
Some situations can be especially tricky, like moving into a new house, the loss of a close family member or friend. Such situations require caregivers to be sensitive to the difficulties their patients might face in coping with the sudden change — which they may not remember even took place.
How to create a positive experience for Alzheimer's patients while moving into a new house?
According to studies, patients suffering from Alzheimer’s are more likely to enjoy life and be comfortable in surroundings that are soothing and familiar.
When considering helping someone with Alzheimer's move into a new house, if possible, look for homes in which the layout is similar to the one where in their previous home.
The walls should be of cool and mild colors to create a neutral environment. Decorations should be minimal and such that they have a soothing effect and minimize distractions.
Wide windows and doors are preferred in order to allow a good amount of sunlight during the day. This will also help make the rooms easy to navigate. Also, the temperature should be maintained at a comfortable level, avoiding extreme variations.
All the things that a person with Alzheimer’s disease needs frequently should be kept in places that are easy to locate and remember. Wardrobes, utensils, key stands, phones, and other important but easily-losable items all should be in areas that are clearly visible.
Most importantly, family and friends should visit regularly. This will make patients living with from Alzheimer's comfortable, improve their mood, and even help stimulate memories. When visits are not possible, someone with Alzheimer's may prefer phone calls or even letters to the task of getting used to novel technologies like computers and cell phones.
Helping someone with Alzheimer's cope with the death of a loved one
The death of a near and dear one is difficult for most people, and more so for people suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Usually, people gradually enter a grieving process, accept the loss, and learn to live with it. For people who have Alzheimer’s, this can prove to be next to impossible. They may have clear memories of the loved one, but because short-term memory is impacted, fail to remember that they passed away. The person may also not remember the deceased person, but still feel something is amiss and feel a loss as the person disappears from their life.
Deciding how and when to break the sad news can be quite stressful for the family.
Some things to take care of while breaking the news of the death of a loved one are:
- Tell the person with Alzheimer's about the death soon as possible. Break the news about the event immediately, before they sense something is wrong and become distressed. Although they might forget about it shortly, they need the information to understand the ongoing events.
- Be prompt and direct. Rather than beating around the bush and using vague phrases, be direct in communicating with them. Don’t hesitate to use words like "passed away" or "died". Explain the event to them in short, simple, and direct sentences. Remind them as often as they need.
- Choose the right time to tell. Break the news of a loved one's passing to someone with Alzheimer's whenever they are calm and well-rested. Be comforting while breaking the news.
- Involve them in the funeral and services. Do not prevent them from attending funerals or services. The rituals can make them accept the reality better. Make sure that someone is with them all the time, to take care of them, and to comfort them if they become agitated.
Helping someone with Alzheimer's get used to a new caregiver
- Explaining the change. Before introducing the new caretaker, explain to your relative or loved one with Alzheimer's disease why this change is being made. Warn your loved one about any upcoming changes as soon as you can, and remind them often.
- Don’t change caregivers suddenly. If possible, the new caregiver should meet the patient in presence of the current caregiver a few times, or you can meet the new caregiver together with your loved one with Alzheimer's. This will hopefully help the patient get acquainted with the new caregiver. However, be aware that people with dementia often remember someone who has been helping them for years without a problem, but caregivers who come into their lives after dementia has become more severe may pose a challenge — as if the person meets their caregiver for the first time every single visit.
- Before a caregiver starts coming, set up a whiteboard on which you can write their name and the date and time at which they will come. You may even choose to place the caregiver's picture to help your loved one with dementia prepare and remember.
A final word
Change is difficult for every single person, but sudden transitions can be crippling for someone affected by Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, as over 50 million people across the globe are. A world of change is being thrust on such patients in today's times and every effort must be made to make this transition easier for them.
This June, let's all remember our fellow citizens with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, and consider how we can improve their lives.
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