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Summary
A caregiver gives care to someone who needs help taking care of themselves. It can be rewarding. It may help to strengthen connections to a loved one. You may feel fulfillment from helping someone else. But sometimes caregiving can be stressful and even overwhelming. This can be especially true when caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
AD is an illness that changes the brain. It causes people to lose the ability to remember, think, and use good judgment. They also have trouble taking care of themselves. Over time, as the disease gets worse, they will need more and more help. As a caregiver, it is important for you to learn about AD. You will want to know what happens to the person during the different stages of the disease. This can help you plan for the future, so that you will have all of the resources you will need to be able to take care of your loved one.
As a caregiver for someone with AD, your responsibilities can include
- Getting your loved one's health, legal, and financial affairs in order. If possible, include them in the planning while they can still make decisions. Later you will need to take over managing their finances and paying their bills.
- Evaluating their house and making sure it's safe for their needs
- Monitoring their ability to drive. You may want to hire a driving specialist who can test their driving skills. When it is no longer safe for your loved one to drive, you need to make sure that they stop.
- Encouraging your loved one to get some physical activity. Exercising together may make it more fun for them.
- Making sure that your loved one has a healthy diet
- Helping with daily tasks like bathing, eating, or taking medicine
- Doing housework and cooking
- Running errands such as shopping for food and clothes
- Driving them to appointments
- Providing company and emotional support
- Arranging medical care and making health decisions
As you care for your loved one with AD, don't ignore your own needs. Caregiving can be stressful, and you need to take care of your own physical and mental health.
At some point, you will not be able to do everything on your own. Make sure that you get help when you need it. There are many different services available, including
- Home care services
- Adult day care services
- Respite services, which provide short-term care for the person with AD
- Federal and state government programs that can provide financial support and services
- Assisted living facilities
- Nursing homes, some of which have special memory care units for people with AD
- Palliative and hospice care
You might consider hiring a geriatric care manager. They are specially trained professionals who can help you to find the right services for your needs.
NIH: National Institute on Aging
Related Issues
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Adapting Activities for People with Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
- Additional COVID-19 Guidance for Caregivers of People Living with Dementia in Community Settings (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
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Bathing, Dressing, and Grooming: Alzheimer's Caregiving Tips
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
-
Changes in Intimacy and Sexuality in Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
-
Coping with Agitation and Aggression
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
-
Coping with Late-Stage Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
-
Disaster Preparedness for Alzheimer's Caregivers
(National Institute on Aging)
-
Driving Safety and Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging)
-
Finding the Right Place for the Person with Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging)
-
Getting Started with Long-Distance Caregiving
(National Institute on Aging)
-
Going to the Hospital: Tips for Dementia Caregivers
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
-
Healthy Eating and Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging)
-
Helping Family and Friends Understand Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
-
Helping People with Alzheimer's Disease Stay Physically Active
(National Institute on Aging)
-
Holiday Hints for Alzheimer's Caregivers
(National Institute on Aging)
-
Home Safety for People with Alzheimer's Disease: Home Safety Room by Room
(National Institute on Aging)
-
Long-Distance Caregiving -- A Family Affair
(National Institute on Aging)
-
Long-Distance Caregiving: Twenty Questions and Answers
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
-
Managing Medicines for a Person with Alzheimer's
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
-
Tips for Coping with Sundowning
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
Specifics
- Brushing: Information for Caregivers (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) - PDF Also in Spanish
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Caregiver Health
(National Library of Medicine)
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Changes in Communication Skills
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Dry Mouth and Older Adults: Information for Caregivers (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Finding Low-Cost Dental Care: Information for Caregivers (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Flossing: Information for Caregivers (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) - PDF Also in Spanish
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Providing Care and Comfort at the End of Life
(National Institute on Aging)
-
Urinary Incontinence in Older Adults
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
-
Wandering and Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
-
When a Person with Alzheimer's Rummages and Hides Things
(National Institute on Aging)
Statistics and Research
-
Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
(Alzheimer's Association)
- Caregiving for Alzheimer's Disease or Other Dementia (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: A Personalized Voice-Based Diet Assistant for Caregivers of Alzheimer Disease and...
- Article: Quality of life and factors affecting it in patients with Alzheimer's...
- Article: Predictors of mental health problems in formal and informal caregivers of...
- Alzheimer's Caregivers -- see more articles
Reference Desk
- Alzheimer's: Glossary (Alzheimer's Association)
Find an Expert
- AAAs (Area Agencies on Aging) & Title VI Aging Programs (National Association of Area Agencies on Aging)
- Alzheimer's Association
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Getting Help with Caregiving
(National Institute on Aging)
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National Institute on Aging
Also in Spanish
Finance and Policy
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Legal and Financial Planning for People with Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
-
Managing Money Problems in Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging)
Patient Handouts
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Bathing, Dressing, and Grooming: Alzheimer's Caregiving Tips
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
-
Changes in Communication Skills
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
-
Changes in Intimacy and Sexuality in Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
-
Coping with Agitation and Aggression
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
-
Going to the Hospital: Tips for Dementia Caregivers
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
-
Managing Medicines for a Person with Alzheimer's
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
-
Managing Personality and Behavior Changes
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
-
Urinary Incontinence in Older Adults
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
-
Wandering and Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF