Medical Health Encyclopedia

If you are considering any drugs or supplements, you MUST talk to your doctor first. Remember that herbs and supplements available over the counter are NOT regulated by the FDA.

SUPPORT AT HOME

Someone with AD will need support in the home as the disease worsens. Family members or other caregivers can help by trying to understand how the person with AD perceives his or her world. Simplify the patient's surroundings. Give frequent reminders, notes, lists of routine tasks, or directions for daily activities. Give the person with AD a chance to talk about their challenges and participate in their own care.

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OTHER PRACTICAL STEPS

The person with AD should have their eyes and ears checked. If problems are found, hearing aids, glasses, or cataract surgery may be needed.

Those with AD may have particular dietary requirements such as:

• Extra calories due to increased physical activity from restlessness and wandering.
• Supervised meals and help with feeding. People with AD often forget to eat and drink, and can become dehydrated as a result.

The Safe Return Program, implemented by the Alzheimer's Association, requires that a person with AD wear in identification bracelet. If he or she wanders, the caregiver can contact the police and the national Safe Return office, where information about the person is stored and shared nationwide.

Eventually, 24-hour monitoring and assistance may be necessary to provide a safe environment, control aggressive or agitated behavior, and meet physiologic needs. This may include in-home care, nursing homes, or adult day care.