Practical Tips to Help Families and Spouses Cope With an Alzheimer's Diagnosis
Whether it’s your aging parents, spouse, sibling, or close relative, receiving an Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment diagnosis is devastating. November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. Unfortunately, although the Alzheimer's Association has made great strides toward raising awareness about the disease, there is no cure as of today. This fact leaves many feeling hopeless and helpless when a loved one receives an Alzheimer's diagnosis.
Those first few days after receiving an Alzheimer's diagnosis may seem overwhelming. While feeling angry or upset is natural, creating a strategy can help everyone cope. Here are a few practical tips to help families and spouses cope with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, along with links to local resources to help you on your caregiver journey.
Organize Your Loved One’s Affairs
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. Ask about their preferences regarding long-term care as the disease progresses. Although it may be challenging to discuss these topics, it’s essential to talk about them while your loved one can still make sound decisions.
Create Memory Albums
Put together memory albums with your loved one. 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, write out your favorite family recipes, memories, and other essential family stories that your loved one recalls. That way, you’ll always have the memories once your loved one can no longer remember the information.
Give Yourself Space to Grieve
Like any other terminal diagnosis, you need to give yourself time and space to grieve an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Alzheimer’s or other dementia 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 days when the news hits you again. Take it one day at a time, and be kind to yourself. If reading helps you process, check out the recommended reading list provided by The Gathering Place and Memory Matters.
Look for Support
Families and spouses need a strong support network when Alzheimer's or dementia enters the picture. Evaluate your support network and learn to accept help. Some families find it extremely helpful to join a support group related to memory loss or dementia. Support groups are valuable places to learn about caregiving tips and available resources and connect with others in a similar situation. A great place to start is the Alzheimer’s Association, Wisconsin Chapter. The Wisconsin chapter offers a wide variety of support groups throughout the state.
Start Researching Options for Care
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s is extremely rewarding but can also be incredibly taxing as the disease progresses. Families and spouses can cope by researching available care options before they reach the point of exhaustion. Some might prefer to hire a professional caregiver through an in-home care company to provide respite once a week. Others might need more full-time care, especially as the disease progresses. Sheboygan County’s Aging and Disability Resource Center is a valuable local resource for family caregivers. Visit their website for more information.
Visiting Angels Sheboygan wants families and spouses to know they are not alone when a loved one receives an Alzheimer's diagnosis. We are here to provide professional support and professional care. Our Alzheimer’s care services spare your loved one the emotional trauma of moving to an unfamiliar living environment. Our compassionate caregivers come to your loved one’s home to support and assist, making aging in place possible. We offer various caregiving services, including medication reminders, wandering prevention, personal care, meal preparation, and more. With our help, you can have peace of mind that your loved one is receiving the best care possible as they continue to live at home. Let us help you cope. Please reach out by calling us at 920-221-1000 today.