In the United States, there are more than 6 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease, with that figure anticipated to climb to 13 million by 2050. Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are projected to cost $355 billion this year, with expenses rising to approximately $1.1 trillion by the year 2050.
If you have an Alzheimer’s patient, you’re probably providing unpaid care. In reality, over 11 million people in the US do so for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Alzheimer’s caregivers estimated that they gave around 15.3 billion hours of informal care worth $257 billion in 2020. It can be difficult to adjust to the fact that your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease. In this blog, we’ll discuss a couple of tips that might help you adapt to your loved one living this issue.
Provide a Safe Environment
As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, your loved one’s cognitive abilities will deteriorate, causing them to misunderstand objects, words, and sounds. They could even be making things up that do not exist.
Experts advise that you increase the lighting within the house and eliminate shadows or glare that could be intimidating. Consider removing mirrors since they can be deceptive, and solid color walls are preferable to patterned ones because they can cause illusions.
You should also take precautions to restrict their exposure to threats, avoid injuries, and protect them from poisoning. You must also make sure they don’t get lost and that there are no burns or flames.
While dementia care facilities and services are available, many elderly people choose to stay at home for as long as feasible. They remain connected to their memories by remaining in a familiar environment. If your loved one insists on staying at home, make sure you provide a safe environment for them to stay in.
How to Interact with an Alzheimer’s Patient
If you don’t have any previous experience dealing with an Alzheimer’s patient, you should begin by teaching yourself. You’ll need to know how to respond when the sickness worsens. You’ll need to be flexible, sensitive, and patient, to name a few qualities.
Because their actions and capacities will change rapidly and frequently, you must be ready to adjust and pivot. Their behavior might often irritate or frustrate you. They might ask weird questions they made up in their imagination. They might injure themselves and require your help. Be patient and attentive, try to stay calm, and look out for them always.
Cost of Medication
The daily medicine required for Alzheimer’s disease is another challenge you must be prepared for. The price of prescribed drugs can quickly build up if one is uninsured.
In such types of situations, you should consider getting financial assistance to help you with the cost of medication. Enroll in one of the Rx Helper’s prescription assistance programs to get access to affordable medication. Get in touch with us now to learn more.
Disclaimer: This article is only intended for educational purposes and shouldn’t be used as a substitute for medical advice.
