In this slideshow, Tom Knox, founder of CareFamily.com, talks about how to care for someone with Alzheimer's. In the presentation, which was originally used for a webinar registration, there is a lot of information on this subject from personal stories and experience. A lot of the same kind of problems often appear with Alzheimer's patients, so it's vital that you are ready for these problems when they arise. Whether you are caring for your senior loved one or you are a caregiver caring for a senior, this guide will help give you a general overview for this kind of care. To get more in depth training, go to some of the resources we list at the end of the presentation. We hope this helps equip you in your journey of caring for someone with Alzheimer's.

1. Caregiving for
Alzheimer’s and
Dementia Patients
Presented by:
Tom Knox
November 20, 2013
CareFamily.com

2. What is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes
problems with memory, thinking and
behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly
and get worse over time, becoming severe
enough to interfere with daily tasks.
CareFamily.com

3. Understanding Changes in Behavior
• Aggression and Anger
• Suspicion and Delusions
• Anxiety and Agitation
• Sleep Issues and Sundowning
• Memory Loss and Confusion
• Repetition
• Depression
• Wandering and Getting Lost
• Hallucinations
CareFamily.com

4. Top Five Tips for Caregiving
1.
Try not to take behavior personally
2.
Remain patient and calm
3.
Explore pain as a trigger
4.
Don’t argue or try to convince
5.
Accept behaviors as a reality of the disease and
try to work through it
CareFamily.com

5. Care at All Stages of Alzheimer’s: Early-Stage
In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, a person may function independently.
• What to Expect
o Mild changes in the ability to think and learn
o Continues to participate in daily activities, and two-way dialogue
o Could last for years
• Some Good Activities
o Keep track of appointments
o Help in remembering words or names
o Help in recalling familiar places or people
o Keep track of medications
o Planning or organizing
CareFamily.com

6. Care at All Stages of Alzheimer’s: Middle-Stage
The middle stages of Alzheimer’s are typically the longest and can last for years
• What to Expect
o Difficult to express thoughts and perform routine tasks
o Could get frustrated or angry
o Could act in unexpected ways, such as refusing to bathe
• Some Good Activities
o Use calm voice when responding to repeated questions
o Respond to the emotion, instead of the specific question; the
person may simply need reassurance
o Use simple written reminders if the person can still read
o Be aware of changes – a physician should rule out physical
problems or medication side effects
CareFamily.com

7. Care at All Stages of Alzheimer’s: Late-Stage
The late stage of Alzheimer’s disease may last from several weeks to several years
• What to Expect
o Difficulty eating and swallowing
o Needs assistance walking and eventually is unable to walk
o Needs full-time help with personal care
o Vulnerable to infections, especially pneumonia
o Loses the ability to communicate with words
• Some Good Activities
o Play his or her favorite music
o Read portions of books that have meaning for the person
o Look at old photos
o Prepare a favorite food
o Rub lotion with a favorite scent into skin
o Brush the person’s hair
o Sit outside together on a nice day

8. Tips for Communicating with Alzheimer’s Patients
• Changes in Communication
o Using familiar words repeatedly
o Inventing new words to describe familiar objects
o Easily losing his or her train of thought
o Reverting back to a native language
o Having difficulty organizing words logically
o Speaking less often
• What You Can do to Help
o Be patient and supportive
o Offer comfort and reassurance
o Avoid criticizing and correcting
o Avoid arguing
o Offer a guess
o Encourage unspoken communication
o Limit distractions
o Focus on feelings, not facts

9. Excellent Resources
•
Alzheimer’s Association
o www.alz.org
o www.communityresourcefinder.org
o Offices / Chapters throughout the U.S.
o 24-Hour Helpline: 1-800-272-3900
•
Carefamily.com
o Info.CareFamily.com
o Videos, webinars, white papers and articles
•
Online education
o Alz.org
✓ E-learning workshops, training and
certification, books and DVDs
o CareFamily.com
✓ Free courses; certification

10. You can Find Courses at Carefamily.com
Easy access from the
Carefamily “Dashboard.”
Register today at:
www.carefamily.com
For full access

11. A Great Example of a FREE Course!
Great, Relevant
Course
Offerings to
Continue your
education

12. Our Story … Your Story
“ My beloved grandmother was neglected in
a facility. It inspired me to start an agency
that successfully hired and cared for
thousands of seniors at home. I have
realized that there are great caregivers who
want to build their careers at a livable wage.
Our goal is to provide you great career
options with the best families in America.”
- Tom Knox, Founder
Held by my great grandmother …
4 Generations of my family.

13. Visit us at:
www.CareFamily.com
CareFamily.com