How To Help A Loved One With Alzheimer’s Make Decisions

by guest author Paul Denikin

Caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming at times, and when the individual’s capacity for understanding and retaining information dwindles, there may be a time when you are required to step in and help make decisions for their day-to-day care and future. It’s extremely important to remember, however, that just because a person has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another degenerative disease does not mean they aren’t capable of making at least some decisions for themselves, and taking away that right is illegal and unethical.

Here are some of the best tips for ensuring that your loved one stays happy and healthy for as long as possible. 

photo by BookBabe via Pixabay

Plan early

As a general rule, it’s a good idea to have a plan for any big decision even when Alzheimer’s isn’t involved. Far too often, people fail to adequately plan for the future and end up leaving their loved ones at a loss. For your loved one with Alzheimer’s, try to help them make plans as soon as possible for their care, their health insurance, long-term living situations, and end of life preparations. These are things that few people want to think about, but it’s imperative for an Alzheimer’s sufferer to lay out a directive for what they want so there will be no confusion later on.

If your loved one is going to need in-home care–or will be going to live with you or another relative–make sure that’s in writing. In some big families, it can be difficult to make arrangements of this sort once the individual starts losing their mental capacity.

Some insurance carriers will only pay for a certain number of days in a hospital or assisted living facility. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the particulars so there are no surprises down the road. Ask your loved one if they would like to assign a family member to help them with their finances.

Do your research

Although an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is different for everyone, it’s important for the individual and their family members to understand the stages of the disease and what they mean. Behavior, physical health, mental capacity, and emotions are all affected by Alzheimer’s, meaning that at different stages, an individual may begin to forget small or big things such as a pot of water boiling on the stove or what year it is. They may begin to have trouble with incontinence, and their physical health may suffer. Individuals with Alzheimer’s often have eyesight issues and lose the ability to see subtle contrasts in color; they may have balance problems that lead to falls; they may begin to show signs of frustration or become violent. Whichever stages your loved one goes through, they will need assistance in planning for their safety, which is why it’s imperative to make a plan for where they’ll live and whether they will have in-home care.

Plan for safety

Your loved one will need to be safe no matter where they live, so making sure their environment is well taken care of is important. Their home will need to have clutter-free walkways, well-lit living areas, and locks on doors to rooms containing weapons or sharp tools. They will need a list of emergency phone numbers, as well.

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Paul Denikin enjoys working on DIY home repair projects. He is passionate about sharing his experiences working on DIY projects to benefit people with special needs children. You can find him online at Dadknowsdiy.com.

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Decisions about care for a senior member of the family often involve several adult relatives. When they have difficulty coming to agreement, working with a family mediator can be very helpful.  

For a free consultation about whether mediation would be helpful for your family, contact Dr. Virginia Colin at mediatorQ@gmail.com or 703.864.2101.