Working with clients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia requires special skills. Caregivers need to be trained to understand the disease and how best to work with a client with Alzheimer’s disease.
On a day-to-day basis, good communication techniques and strategies to manage care/routine can improve the life of the Alzheimer’s patient. Simple things like knowing how to react to repetitive questions or respond to a client’s delusion can make all the difference. Understanding behaviors, a caregiver can use special strategies to create a safe, pleasant environment for the client. Alzheimer’s caregivers have to be prepared when they come up against issues like confusion, fear, anger, paranoia, hallucinations, refusing care, wandering, and even lashing out or physical reactions.
EasyLiving caregivers receive Alzheimer’s specialty training that includes:
- Disease awareness (Alzheimer’s and other dementias): terms, symptoms, disease process, etc.
- Important strategies for caring for someone at different stages of Alzheimer’s disease
- Communication
- Understanding behavior
- Smart ways to deal with behavior challenges and redirecting
- Creating a routine and comfort for the client
- Social needs and life enrichment activities (how to modify activities)
In addition, our caregivers are all trained in quality care techniques and client safety (safe transferring, medication management, fall prevention, etc.). Our care coordinators help caregivers troubleshoot when they run into behavioral challenges or have concerns about the client.
Any Alzheimer’s caregiver can tell you that it can be a challenging (and rewarding) job. It takes a caregiver with the know-how to provide supportive care for the person with dementia. A properly trained Alzheimer’s caregiver can keep your loved one from unnecessary nursing home placement. Routine is essential for a person with Alzheimer’s. Our caregivers use the EasyLiving care plan to develop a personalized routine which keeps the person safe, healthy, happy…and functioning much better at home much longer.