How to Cope with an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Nobody wants to hear the words, “you are in the early stages of dementia, and it could be Alzheimer’s.” Whether it’s your aging parents, spouse, sibling, relative, or a dearly loved friend, when an Alzheimer’s diagnosis strikes close to home, fear can creep in. What will the future look like? Do I need to put mom or dad in a nursing home? Will we have enough money to give them the best care available? Will this be the last holiday season that they remember? And if it’s a parent or close relative who’s diagnosed, will it happen to me?

September is World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. It is a month dedicated worldwide to raise awareness and challenge the stigma that surrounds dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are approximately 50 million people worldwide living with dementia. While we are very fortunate to have a vast amount of resources and a leading organization dedicated to curing the disease, as of today, Alzheimer’s disease has no cure. This leaves many feeling hopeless when they hear of a loved one receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. As devastating as an Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be, here are a few strategies to help you cope and to offer you hope as you face a difficult journey ahead.

Get Your Affairs in Order
If your loved one doesn’t already have their affairs in order, now is the time to do so. As the disease progresses, they will have more and more difficulty making financial and legal decisions. Designate a power of attorney. Ensure they have a living will and trust. Finalize funeral planning and arrangements. Discuss their wishes in regard to long term care as the disease progresses. If they are living with a spouse, discuss care options that will help alleviate the burden of caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease. As difficult as some of these conversations may be, having a plan can help you cope as the disease progresses.

Create Memory Albums
Put together memory albums with your loved one. Take time to organize photographs that have been stored under the bed or in the closet in shoe boxes. Place photos in albums and write names, dates, and places of what’s pictured. Your loved one will enjoy flipping through the albums as the disease progresses. Also take time to write out favorite family recipes, family memories, and other important family history that your loved one recalls. The way, you’ll always have the memories once your loved one can no longer recall the information.

Give Yourself Grace to Grieve
Just like any other terminal diagnosis, you need to give yourself the grace to grieve an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Memory impairment and decline may not have been in your retirement plan. It’s normal to feel devastated, hopeless, and alone. Allow yourself time and space to grieve the future. Know that you’ll have great days and you’ll have days where the news hits you again. Take it one day at time and be kind to yourself.

Find a Support Group
Another way to cope is to join a support group specific to Alzheimer’s disease and/or dementia. Start by asking your loved one’s doctor for recommendations. Many hospitals, churches, and memory loss communities also offer support groups. By surrounding yourself with other people going through your similar situation, you’re building a support system while also exposing yourself to a vast amount of resources.

Start Researching Options for Care
Caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer’s is extremely rewarding but can also be extremely taxing as the disease progresses. Begin to research what options for care work best for your loved one, yourself, and your family before you reach a point of exhaustion. For some, bringing in occasional help from an in-home care agency provides the right amount of support so that they can continue to be the primary caregiver. Others may need more help in the form of a full-time caregiver or making a move into a memory care community. Research your options now so that when additional help is needed, you can make the right decision instead of a reactive decision.

Receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis may seem like the end of the world but know that there is hope. While there is yet to be a cure, the good news is that it is a progressive disease. The memory decline happens slowly over time. You will have many great days with your loved one, and you can continue to create meaningful moments even as their memory begins to decline.

You are also not alone in your journey into Alzheimer’s. At Visiting Angels Richmond, we are here to provide experienced support and Alzheimer’s care services to you and your loved one. Our memory care resources give practical tips to help you care for your aging loved one. We are here to help keep your loved one safe at home, in an environment in which they are most familiar and comfortable. If you or your loved one is facing an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, please get the care and support you need. Call us today for more information about our services.