Whether you have been married for many, many years and have enjoyed raising your family and a plethora of adventures throughout your time together, or conversely you found each other later on in life, a committed partnership is a wonderful union to be part of.
When one of you is diagnosed with a memory-based illness such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, it is an incredibly emotional and even confusing time for the other.
Here is some helpful advice for loving partners of Alzheimer’s patients.
Create a Safe and Secure Home Environment
Regardless of whether your husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend has been diagnosed in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease or not, the sooner you and your partner are made aware of the situation, the sooner you can start adapting your lives to suit.
Creating a safe and secure environment in the home is of optimum importance, with the following key areas an excellent place to start:
- Lower the temperature on your thermostat to reduce the risk of water burns
- Ensure the floor is as clear as possible and that rugs and cords are removed
- Keep dangerous tools, substances, and medicines in locked cabinets
- Check that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are in full working order
Work to Reduce Frustrating Situations
One of the more common situations that people who are living with Alzheimer’s disease find themselves in is when they become frustrated and agitated whilst completing relatively simple tasks which they never gave a second thought to previously.
Limiting the chance of your loved one becoming stressed and frustrated is especially important in people living with dementia, and this can be achieved by establishing an adapted daily routine and allowing more than enough time to get from one appointment to another.
It is always better to be early – giving your loved one a chance to settle and become relaxed and familiar with a situation – than to be rushed and late (the latter obviously adding to their stress levels).
Think About the Future Together
Even though your loved one is the one who is directly experiencing the process of accepting – and then living with – a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, such a situation will also heavily impact your own daily life.
Planning for the future and looking into long-term Alzheimer’s care options is not only a sensible way to approach the diagnosis but is also a strong way of approaching the situation together and remaining connected and united.
Pour Time and Energy into Communication
Finally, and perhaps most importantly of all, even though your loved one’s progression of their Alzheimer’s journey may be quicker and more noticeable than others (or indeed quite the opposite) good communication between you both is essential.
Never, under any circumstances, should you exclude your partner from any conversation when they are present in the room or ever interrupt them when they are talking – even if they are struggling to connect their words with their thoughts.
Additionally, be sure to never make generalized assumptions about your partner’s Alzheimer’s journey, and always remember that everyone responds to their new situation differently.