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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
- Abuse (Alzheimer's Association)
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Bathing, Dressing, and Grooming: Alzheimer's Caregiving Tips
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
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Caring for a Person with Late-Stage Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
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Changes in Intimacy and Sexuality in Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
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Coping with Agitation and Aggression in Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging)
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Getting Started with Long-Distance Caregiving
(National Institute on Aging)
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Going to the Hospital: Tips for Dementia Caregivers
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF
- Grief and Loss as Alzheimer's Progresses (Alzheimer's Association)
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Healthy Eating and Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging)
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Helping Family and Friends Understand Alzheimer's Disease
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF Also in Spanish
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Long-Distance Caregiving
(National Institute on Aging)
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Managing Medicines for a Person with Alzheimer's
(National Institute on Aging)
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) Also in Spanish
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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
- Hallucinations, Delusions and Paranoia (Alzheimer's Association) - PDF
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Providing Care and Comfort at the End of Life
(National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
- Resources for Caregivers of People with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (Department of Health and Human Services) Also in Spanish
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Urinary Incontinence in Older Adults
(National Institute on Aging)
Statistics and Research
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Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
(Alzheimer's Association)
- Caregiving for a Person with Alzheimer's Disease or a Related Dementia (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Development and validation of care stress management scale in family caregivers...
- Article: Cost-Effectiveness of the Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Program-Care in Informal Caregivers of People...
- Article: Relieving care burden and promoting health-related quality of life for family...
- Alzheimer's Caregivers -- see more articles
Reference Desk
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About Alzheimer's Disease: Caregiving
(National Institute on Aging)
- Alzheimer's: Glossary (Alzheimer's Association)
Find an Expert
- AAAs (Area Agencies on Aging) & Title VI Aging Programs (USAging)
- Alzheimer's Association
- Alzheimers.gov (Department of Health and Human Services) Also in Spanish
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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
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
-
Going to the Hospital: Tips for Dementia Caregivers
(National Institute on Aging) - PDF