Living With Alzheimer's
If you or a loved one has received an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, you may be feeling overwhelmed. After accepting and understanding the terminal nature of the disease, you and your family may be better able to prepare yourselves and live much more fully. There will be time ahead to continue enjoying life and pleasurable activities— even if it’s in a different way— and to make important plans and decisions with loved ones.
Alzheimer's: What to Expect
This is a difficult time, but it’s helpful to know about the condition once a formal diagnosis has been made. Many people with Alzheimer’s disease feel a sense of relief when the news of their condition is finally out in the open.
Learning, knowing what to expect, and sharing thoughts and information with loved ones, others who have the disease, and professionals can help you feel more in control and better able to take advantage of current treatments and assistance.
How to Cope with Alzheimer's
After adjusting to the new diagnosis and preparing for the future, you can focus on enhancing everyday life while living with the disease.
- Prioritize home and personal safety by modifying and adapting your home while keeping the surroundings familiar.
- Understand that Alzheimer’s will strongly impact the relationships and family of the individual with the disease. There are resources to address your concerns and help families cope.
- Given the progressive nature of this disease, it’s generally a question of when, not if, a worker should inform their employer. Before talking with your employer’s human resources, you may want to talk first with a lawyer to determine rights and responsibilities.
- Do legal and financial planning as soon as practical. That way, these decisions will be made and won’t add more stress later, when the person with Alzheimer’s may need more attention or when a crisis situation occurs.
- Identify sources of help. Whether it is financial aid, government benefits, or long-term care.
Healthy Living With Alzheimer's
A combination of social, mental, and physical stimulation is the best medicine for a healthy life. Even after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, stimulating activities should be continued and modified as needed. Regular exercise and a nutritious diet are also important for Alzheimer’s patients.
Keep an Active Mind
Preliminary evidence suggests that staying mentally active may be associated with preservation of cognitive function.
Get Regular Exercise
Lifelong exercise reduces a person’s chances of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and cardiovascular disease, all of which may be associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The brain also benefits greatly from the increased blood circulation brought about and sustained by regular physical activity.
Eat a Varied Diet
Eating a diet that is high in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables and low in sugar and fat can reduce the incidence of many chronic diseases.
Building Your Support System
Having support from family, friends, and community providers is crucial. The more you learn about this disease and the resources available, the better you can create a plan for the future.
How To Find Support Once Diagnosed:
- Once you have learned what to expect from the disease, look for sources of help, such as local, state, and federal government services; adult day care; and respite services—assistance with home caregiving— for yourself. Make a list of these resources and keep it in a handy place.
- Lotsa Helping Hands powers online caring communities that help restore health and balance to caregivers’ lives. Lotsa Helping Hands makes it easy to ask family and friends to help. This online tool provides a free private group calendar for caregivers, friends, family members, and other volunteers.
Confused by the Medical Lingo?
Were you or a loved one recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease but feel lost when trying to decipher the diagnosis given by your physician? Use our handy disease glossary to learn more about the terms you’ve been hearing.
Resources
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