Alzheimer’s and quality of life

Quality of life for a person living with Alzheimer’s disease is different for every individual. For a person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, their ability to think, make decisions and be in control of one’s own life is hindered. Many believe you lose important qualities of life, while others believe it is possible to maintain quality while living with the disease.

Despite the loss of a lot of abilities, it is important to remember that a person living with Alzheimer’s still holds the ability to appreciate, respond and experience feelings such as anger, fear, love or sadness. Recognizing and adapting to these abilities is a key factor to the quality of life for a person living with Alzheimer’s.

The effect Alzheimer’s disease has on the quality of life of a caregiver has its highs and its lows. You are determining someone else’s quality of life and that is not easy. There is a strain on you and your other loved ones. The quality of life of young children of caregivers is often affected, as young children need support and attention that the caregiver is often unable to give. Caring for someone else’s quality of life will consist of balancing your life, while also balancing a person with Alzheimer’s disease.

The other side are the positive effects on the quality of life for caregivers. A caregiver will feel immense satisfaction from caring for a person living with Alzheimer’s disease. Relationships will be pulled but the ultimate feeling when caring for a parent, spouse or friend is love. You will grow with the person you are caring for and learn new things. This person’s quality of life is at your fingertips; you have the ability to affect someone’s life greatly.

The key to quality of life for both the caregiver and person living with Alzheimer’s disease is balance. If balance is not struck, the quality of life of both the caregiver and the person with the disease may suffer.

There are ways we can enhance the quality of life of those with the disease and their care partners and family. Learning about Alzheimer’s disease and understanding its progression and how to effectively communicate with a person living with Alzheimer’s is key. The more knowledge you have about the person you are caring for and the disease, the easier it will be to communicate and work with them. For instance, you can learn tricks like how to decipher a person’s facial expression and how each one conveys emotions such as joy.

The Alzheimer Society holds monthly support groups, and supports caregivers through phone calls and educational opportunities. Take advantage of the services offered by the society at no cost.

Openly communicating with the person you are caring for and consulting the person to learn more about particular likes, dislikes and opinions in important. If the person you are caring for is unable to communicate talk to someone close to the person. As the disease progresses their previous likes and dislikes may change.

Build on the person’s strengths and encourage the person living with Alzheimer’s to use their abilities. This promotes positivity and gives the person a sense of feeling useful and valued. This could be simple things like drying the dishes, folding clothes, or sorting the mail.

Provide a living space for the person that is comfortable, familiar, safe and provides a sense of security. It is also important to provide necessary support while maintaining as much independence as possible. Research has shown that the color bright red is easily identifiable for people with dementia so doing simple things like painting your toilet seat and light switch covers red can aid in independence. Adding a memory wall of pictures that are familiar can make a person feel more comfortable as well. Talking about the pictures and what you are doing when you took the picture can help keep memories fresh. Have picture books of favorite things such as puppies, cars, stamps, etc. on a table can provide activity and comfort.

Take care of your own mental stability. Take regular breaks from caregiving, whether this is a trip to the grocery store, a weekly yoga class, a weekend get away. This allows you to refresh your mind and become aware of ones feelings, reactions and stress levels. Give yourself regular relief from your duties and get away from the caregiver responsibilities and tasks so when you are back you can give the best care possible.

For more information on the quality of life for those with dementia and their care partners, contact the Alzheimer Society at 403-329-3766 ext. 302.

Part of the information included comes from the brochure “Quality of Life” available at the Alzheimer Society.