Caring for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s can be difficult, and this can be even tougher when that loved one is your spouse. Watching your partner’s condition deteriorate and noticing them slowly forget who you are can be heartbreaking. Spouses and partners may begin to wonder if it even matters if they visit their loved one as they may not recognise you. Although it may be a difficult experience to visit them, ultimately it does bring comfort to both of you.
As soon as you find out that your loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s it can really shatter your world and turn it on its head. Different Alzheimer’s care options start to occupy your every thought. It can be stressful deciding how to provide a safe, comfortable environment that is suitable with your loved one’s best interests at heart.
Caring for a Spouse with Dementia
It can be difficult to view your loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s in the same way you did before they became ill. Especially when they may not even remember you or what they experienced pre-Alzheimer’s. However, there are ways to spend time with your loved one without any worry over whether they remember an event from the past; such as taking a walk in nature or visiting a cultural or historical site and just enjoying the experience.
Here are some other tips to help you get through this challenging transition:
- One of the most effective ways to deal with these difficulties is to remind yourself that the difficult things are the disease showing itself, not your partner. Those venomous remarks she now makes become less stinging when you recognise that they’re coming from her dementia rather than her heart.
- Don’t correct or argue with your spouse if they get a date or detail wrong. Say yes if they say they want to go home when you’re sitting in the living room you’ve shared for 40 years. Then tell them you’ll go in a few minutes when traffic is better. This type of redirection might keep your partner calm and pleased.
- It’s possible that you won’t be able to care for your loved one at home in the future. It’s OK to transfer them to a facility that can give them the attention and care they require 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You’ll still get to be a big part of their life while putting them in an environment that supports their best possible quality of life.
Alzheimer’ care options: Professional or Home
Dementia treatment necessitates specialised dementia care professionals as well as activities customised to your loved one suffering from cognitive loss. Even the environment must be carefully built with dementia patients in mind so that they do not become lost, confused, or find themselves in an uncomfortable situation. Dementia and Alzheimer’s care specialists require continual training to stay current on breakthroughs in therapies for patients suffering from memory-related illnesses.
While it may seem as if getting a nurse and full-time live-in care might be the best option, it is not the most sustainable care option for your loved one. A dementia care facility with access to an expert team of neuropsychologists, occupational therapists, doctors, and individual dementia caregivers provides the ideal setting for someone with dementia.
Alzheimer’s care options at Livewell
Livewell is one such Alzheimer’s care option that can provide specialised dementia care for your loved one, while also taking you into account. Livewell has special Alzheimer’s and dementia care staff who assist in providing a safe comfortable environment for your loved one.
Livewell can offer specialised dementia care and provides a service tailored to you and your partner’s needs. Livewell also allows spouses to live at their facility if their loved one is a resident. They will then be transferred to a couples suite. Taking care of your loved one may be a difficult task on your own, but you don’t have to do it on your own. There are Alzheimer’s care options out there, it’s up to you to take the next step to get your spouse the support structure they need.