Caring for someone who has Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be stressful and overwhelming. It's important to take care of yourself. Ask for and accept help.
Talk to the doctor. Find out what treatments might help control symptoms or address behavior problems. Find a support group. Others who have "been there" may be able to help and will understand.
If there are times of day that the person is less confused or more cooperative, take advantage of that in daily routines. Consider using adult day care or respite services. These offer a break with the peace of mind that the patient is being taken care of. Begin to plan for the future. This may include
- Getting financial and legal documents in order
- Looking into assisted living or nursing homes
- Finding out what your health insurance and Medicare will cover
National Institute on Aging
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Caregiver Guide: Tips for Caregivers of People with Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) - http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/caregiverguide.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/guia.htm - Caregiver Stress(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_caregiver_stress_lwa.asp
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Caring for the Alzheimer's Disease Patient: How You Can Provide the Best Care and Maintain Your Own Well-Being(Geriatric Mental Health Foundation) - http://www.gmhfonline.org/gmhf/consumer/factsheets/caring_alzheimer_disease.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.gmhfonline.org/gmhf/consumer/factsheets/caring_alz_diseasecg_sp.html
- Alzheimer's Care: Practical Tips(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/alzheimers-caregiver/HO00125/METHOD=print
- Alzheimer's Disease Caregiver(American Geriatrics Society) - http://www.americangeriatrics.org/education/forum/alzcare.shtml
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Caring for Someone with Alzheimer's
(National Institute on Aging) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/alzheimerscare/toc.html
- Alzheimer's Patients React Poorly to 'Elderspeak'(07/28/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_67449.html
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Eating(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_eating.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.alz.org/resources/diversity/downloads/hl_fssalimentacioneating.pdf
- Alzheimer's Caregiving: Maintain Your Support Network(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/alzheimers-caregiver/AZ00018/METHOD=print
- Alzheimer's Caregiving: Organizations Offer Help(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/alzheimers/AZ00013/METHOD=print
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Caregiver Stress(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/stress/645.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/mentalhealth/stress/645.printerview.html
- Caregiver Stress(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_caregiver_stress_lwa.asp
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Caregiving and Depression(Family Caregiver Alliance) - http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=393
Also available in Spanish http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=537
- Changes in Relationships(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_changes_in_relationships.asp
- Dementia, Caregiving, and Controlling Frustration(Family Caregiver Alliance) - http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=891
- Grief and Loss(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_grief_and_loss.asp
- 10 Tips for Traveling with Your Loved One(Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation) - http://www.alzinfo.org/alzheimers-travel.asp
- Activities(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_activities.asp
- Alzheimer's: How to Help the Caregivers(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/alzheimers/HQ00214/METHOD=print
- Alzheimer's: Variety of Long-Term Care Options Are Available(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/alzheimers/AZ00028/METHOD=print
- Behaviors(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_behaviors.asp
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Caregiver's Guide to Understanding Dementia Behaviors(Family Caregiver Alliance) - http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=391
Also available in Spanish http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=533
- Choosing Care Providers(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_choosing_care_providers.asp
- Communication(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_communication.asp
- Disaster Preparedness from Alzheimer’s Association(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_disaster_preparedness.asp
- Driving(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_driving.asp
- Exercise and Alzheimer's: Boosts Physical and Emotional Health(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/alzheimers/HQ00637/METHOD=print
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Hiring In-Home Help(Family Caregiver Alliance) - http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=407
Also available in Spanish http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=530
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Home Safety for People with Alzheimer's Disease(National Institute on Aging) - http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/homesafety.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/proteccion.htm
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Hospitalization Happens: A Guide to Hospital Visits for Loved Ones with Memory Disorders(National Institute on Aging) - http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/happens.htm
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Incontinence(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_10510.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.alz.org/Resources/Diversity/downloads/HL_FSSincontinencia.pdf
- Late-Stage Care(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_late_stage_care.asp
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Long-Distance Caregiving(National Institute on Aging) - http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/LongDistanceCaregiving/
- Music, Art, and Other Therapies(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_music_art_and_other_therapies.asp
- Personal Care(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_personal_care.asp
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Sexuality(Alzheimer's Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.alz.org/national/documents/topicsheet_sexuality.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.alz.org/Resources/Diversity/downloads/HL_FSSsexualidad.pdf
- Sleeplessness and Sundowning(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_sleeplessness_and_sundowning.asp
- Wandering(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_wandering_behaviors.asp
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Caring for Someone with Alzheimer's(National Institute on Aging) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/alzheimerscare/toc.html
- Medicare Basics: A Guide for Families and Friends of People with Medicare(Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) - Large PDF file - http://www.aoa.gov/prof/aoaprog/caregiver/carefam/Medicare_Basics.pdf
- Medicare's Hospice Benefit for Alzheimer's Beneficiaries(Alzheimer's Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.alz.org/national/documents/medicare_topicsheet_hospice_benefit.pdf
- Paying for Healthcare(Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation) - http://www.alzinfo.org/alzheimers-resources-paying-healthcare.asp
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Genetics Home Reference: Alzheimer disease(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=alzheimerdisease
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Dementia: psychosocial interventions for family caregivers. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18640438&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Caregivers' assessments of preference-based quality of life in Alzheimer's disease. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18631969&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: 2008 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18631956&tool=MedlinePlus
- Alzheimer's Caregivers -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=caregivers[mh]+AND+alzheimer+disease[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- CareFinder: Glossary(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/carefinder/support/glossary.asp
- Alzheimer's Association - http://www.alz.org/
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Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center(National Institute on Aging) - http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/
- Family Caregiver Alliance - http://www.caregiver.org/
- Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation - http://www.alzinfo.org/
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National Institute on Aging - http://www.nia.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.nia.nih.gov/Espanol/
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Connections Newsletter(National Institute on Aging) - http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/ResearchInformation/Newsletter/
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Legal Issues in Planning for Incapacity(Family Caregiver Alliance) - http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=437
Also available in Spanish http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=541
- Monitoring Abuse(Alzheimer's Association) - http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_monitoring_abuse.asp
- Alzheimer's Disease - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alzheimersdisease.html
- Caregivers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/caregivers.html
- Brain and Nerves - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/brainandnerves.html
- Seniors - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/seniors.html
- Social/Family Issues - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/socialfamilyissues.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Alzheimer's Caregivers is the National Institute on Aging - http://www.nia.nih.gov/
Alzheimer's Caregivers - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/alzheimerscaregivers.html