A Caregiver's Tasks - 5

List five:
Drive really quickly to the adult day center
where kind people are paid
to be nice to him,
to stimulate him,
to feed him,
to make him laugh,
to help him feel valued
and
to give me a few hours break.
It's almost 9:30am and
I'm off to "work."

Revision to Caregiver Tasks - 2

On taking the shower / for example, today:
(Imagine all of this going on as I am also trying to get ready for work.)
Guide him into the bedroom
Ask him to remove his clothes
Find him sitting in the office
"I can't find my shoes."
You just took them off; they're next to the bed.
Guide him back to the bedroom.
Now (said really sweetly) please take off your shirt and socks
He sits and begins with his socks
Go looking for him because he is not in the bedroom
Me: "Where are you?"
Him: "Where are YOU?"
Find him sitting in the office one sock on and one sock off
Lead him back to the bedroom
Help him remove his socks and clothes
Lead him into the bathroom for his shower.
Whew!

A Caregiver's Tasks - 4

List four:
Encourage him to walk downstairs to leave
Reassure him that both cats are safe
Help him check his pockets for tissues
Direct him into the garage
Show him the passenger side of the car
Help him get into the car
Adjust car temperature so he doesn’t complain
Remind him to fasten his seat belt
Get music playing
Readjust car temperature so he’s not too hot/cold

A Caregiver's Tasks - 3

List three:
Insist that he eat breakfast
Cook and serve the breakfast
Upstairs to brush teeth
Give him needed brushing materials.
Explain why brushing is necessary
Turn off the water when he’s finished
Brush his hair
Help him find the toilet
Get small packs of tissues for his pockets
Put drops in his eyes

A Caregiver's Tasks - 2

List Two:
Make sure the water is the right temperature then
Tell him his water is ready for a shower
Lay out his clothes
Check to be sure he is dried off
Give him the deodorant
Remind him where his underarms are
Help him find the toilet
Guide his legs & arms into his clothing
Show him the tube socks so he can put them on
Help him find his shoes

A Caregiver's Tasks - 1

List one:
Remind him to take his medicine / am and pm
Put the pills in his left hand
Turn on the water; hand him his cup
Help him find a Kleenex
Help him find the great room
Give him a cup of coffee
Tell him what day it is and what our plans are
Get him another cup of coffee
Suggest we move back up to the bedroom
Hand him his razor so he can shave

Not really silence

Living with someone who has Alzheimer's Disease can be much lonelier than living alone.