Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s means making some major changes around the house, and in your daily schedule. Adapting to full-time home care can involve a lot of trial-and-error for you and your loved one — especially if you try to write the playbook as you go along. But the good news is, you don’t have to!
Clever caregivers have come up with a variety of brilliant solutions to common in-home care challenges. A few simple modifications to everyday objects, and some strategic preparation for each day’s routine, will help create a safe and reassuring environment for the person in your care — while saving you loads of stress along the way.
Here are 11 super-useful hacks that’ll make your life as a caregiver a whole lot easier, and free you up to focus on making the most of each moment with your loved one:
1. Stock up on games and craft supplies.
2. Write reminders on a calendar and whiteboard.
3. Use labels and sticky notes as memory aids.
4. Place visual barriers on unsafe exits.
5. Make doors safer with foam padding.
6. Serve finger food on colorful plates.
7. Put together some playlists of familiar music.
8. Use tennis balls or washcloths as pen grips.
9. Make zippers easier with a loop of yarn.
10. Keep stress balls and fidget toys handy.
11. Get your loved one involved in household tasks.
1. Stock up on games and craft supplies.
Many people with Alzheimer’s love playing games and working on art projects with friends and family. These fun activities will add some variety to each day’s routine, and will also help keep your loved one’s mind active — which can delay cognitive decline for years. Large-print playing cards are great for simple games like blackjack and go fish; while non-toxic markers, paints and clay provide a wealth of opportunities for artistic expression. Your loved one may also enjoy assembling large-piece jigsaw puzzles, or making collages from magazine photos.
2. Write reminders on a calendar and whiteboard.
Confusion can create a lot of anxiety for a person with Alzheimer’s — so stick a large-print calendar in an easy-to-see place, and write down any appointments, social visits, and other scheduled activities on each day’s square. You may also want to use a colorful magnet or sticker to mark today’s date. And each day, write upcoming activities and comforting reminders on a whiteboard, to reassure your loved one about what’s done, and what’s next.
3. Use labels and sticky notes as memory aids.
Little reminders around the house can also prevent a lot of confusion. If your loved one has trouble remembering where to find certain items, mark those drawers, closets and cabinets with large-print labels. Sticky notes can also help remind them to brush their teeth, wash their hands, and turn off lights, if they’re able to perform these activities independently. As your loved one’s verbal memory fades, simple picture labels can work just as well as words.
4. Place visual barriers on unsafe exits.
Wandering can be an issue for some people with Alzheimer’s, who may try to unlock doors and get out of the house for a variety of reasons. Childproof locks and keypads can prevent these unsafe escapes — but an even simpler solution is to place visual barriers on and around exits. Many caregivers find that brightly colored “danger” labels and “stop” signs are highly effective. Sometimes, a big black “X” made of electrical tape can work just as well.
5. Make doors safer with foam padding.
Doors between rooms can also become safety hazards. To protect your loved one from accidentally slamming or pinching a finger — or, worse yet, locking themselves in a room you can’t access — use this brilliant little trick: chop a foot-long chunk off a foam pool noodle, cut a vertical slice along its side, then push the noodle onto the door’s outer edge. Presto! Instant fix.
6. Serve finger food on colorful plates.
Mealtime can be challenging for people who have trouble handling silverware, and who struggle to visually distinguish food from the plate it’s on. You can solve the first problem by serving foods that are easy to pick up with fingers, like fish sticks, veggie slices and hard-boiled eggs. Solve the second problem by using brightly colored plates — which, as an added bonus, often encourage people with Alzheimer’s to finish more of their food.
7. Put together some playlists of familiar music.
Singing along to favorite songs is a great way to spend an afternoon with your loved one. Relaxing music in the evening, meanwhile, can help them wind down for bed. So create (or find) a few different playlists for various moods and times of day — upbeat classics for a singalong, personal favorites for a stroll down memory lane, and soothing instrumentals for bedtime.
8. Use tennis balls or washcloths as pen grips.
To make it easier for your loved one to write, paint and sign their name, drill a hole in a tennis ball, then run a pen or paintbrush through the opening. If you don’t have any tennis balls handy, wrap a rag or washcloth tightly around the pen, and hold it in place with a rubber band. These homemade grips cost practically nothing, and will make writing and drawing a lot more comfortable for the person in your care.
9. Make zippers easier with a loop of yarn.
It’s not always easy for a person with Alzheimer’s to get dressed in the morning. You can support their independence by laying out the day’s outfit on the bed, and letting them dress themselves. Another handy tip is to run loops of yarn or string through zippers, so they’re easier to grip. A button hook can also be handy for button-up shirts — though some caregivers prefer to keep things simple, and opt for velcro and drawstring clothes instead.
10. Keep stress balls and fidget toys handy.
Sitting still can be tough for your loved one — especially after sundown, when many people with Alzheimer’s become anxious and restless. To soothe the stress of bathtime, bedtime, and any other downtime, it’ll help to keep something on hand to occupy their hands. Squishy stress balls are perfect, while a piece of rope or fabric can often work just as well. Some caregivers even swear by the benefits of fidget spinners!
11. Get your loved one involved in household tasks.
One of the most effective ways to reduce your loved one’s anxiety, and enjoy their company more throughout the day, is to involve them in daily tasks like meal prep and laundry. While you’re cooking, try asking them to read you the recipe, or measure ingredients. And when you finish a load of laundry, invite them to help you fold the clothes. Remember, mistakes don’t matter — what’s most important is to support your loved one’s sense of independence and connection to the family, by encouraging them to participate in each day’s routine.
These are just a few of the most simple, affordable ways to create a safer and more supportive home environment for a person with Alzheimer’s. Still, Alzheimer’s affects every person differently, and you’ll want to personalize your approach to the unique interests, emotions and anxiety triggers of the person you’re caring for. In fact, as you get a better feel for daily life with your loved one, you’re sure to come up with your own hacks, too.
