Try: Communicate with others when in public settings carry a card that explains why cr might say or do odd things for example the card could read my family member has alzheimer alzheimer’s disease he or she might say or do things that are unexpected thank you for your understanding the card allows care giver cg to let others know about cr cr’s condition without cr hearing cg it also means that cg doesn’t have to keep explaining things

Materials: Index card pen

Categories: Sage, Topic, Communication, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical, Verbal Communication, So-So Verbal Comm, Poor Verbal Comm, Cognitive Awareness, Somewhat Aware, Unaware, Long-Term Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: To help family understand what care giver cg and cr are going through tell family how to get more information about cr’s condition s tell family what they can do to help let family know cg needs breaks

References: caring for a person with alzheimer’s disease your easy-to-use guide from the national institute on aging by national institute on aging 2011 available at www nia nih gov

Keywords: Communication memory loss cognitive impairment public public places

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Answer a child’s questions simply and honestly for example try telling a young child grandma has an illness that makes it hard for her to remember things

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Communication, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical, Social, Verbal Communication, So-So Verbal Comm, Poor Verbal Comm, Cognitive Awareness, Somewhat Aware, Unaware, Long-Term Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: To help family understand what care giver cg and cr are going through tell family how to get more information about cr’s condition s tell family what they can do to help let family know cg needs breaks

References: caring for a person with alzheimer’s disease your easy-to-use guide from the national institute on aging by national institute on aging 2011 available at www nia nih gov

Keywords: Communication children child grandchildren grandchild memory loss cognitive impairment

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Explore new ways of spending time together focus on other ways to show affection some care givers cg find that snuggling or holding hands reduces their need for a sexual relationship

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Communication, Emotional Psychological, Sexuality Intimacy, Social, Gender, Male, Female, Touch, So-So Touch, Poor Touch, Verbal Communication, So-So Verbal Comm, Poor Verbal Comm, Cognitive Awareness, Somewhat Aware, Unaware, Long-Term Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: n/a

References: caring for a person with alzheimer’s disease your easy-to-use guide from the national institute on aging by national institute on aging 2011 available at www nia nih gov

Keywords: Sex sexuality intimacy relationships marriage communication memory loss cognitive impairment

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Focus on other ways to show affection try other nonsexual forms of touching such as giving a massage hugging and dancing consider other ways to meet sexual needs some care givers cg report that they masturbate to meet sexual needs

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Communication, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical, Sexuality Intimacy, Social, Gender, Male, Female, Touch, So-So Touch, Poor Touch, Verbal Communication, So-So Verbal Comm, Poor Verbal Comm, Cognitive Awareness, Somewhat Aware, Unaware, Long-Term Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: n/a

References: caring for a person with alzheimer’s disease your easy-to-use guide from the national institute on aging by national institute on aging 2011 available at www nia nih gov

Keywords: Sex sexuality intimacy relationships marriage communication memory loss cognitive impairment

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Give friends family suggestions about how to start talking with cr for example hello george i’m john we used to work together

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Communication, Medical Physical, Social, Verbal Communication, So-So Verbal Comm, Poor Verbal Comm, Cognitive Awareness, Somewhat Aware, Long-Term Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: To help family understand what care giver cg and cr are going through tell family how to get more information about cr’s condition s tell family what they can do to help let family know cg needs breaks

References: caring for a person with alzheimer’s disease your easy-to-use guide from the national institute on aging by national institute on aging 2011 available at www nia nih gov

Keywords: Communication friends family coworkers memory loss cognitive impairment conversation small talk talking socializing

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Encourage the cr to implement the following recommendations create a file that has documentation related to your finances and medical expenses the file should include the following

Materials: n/a

Categories: Communication, Financial, Legal, Medical Physical

Information: All of your assets and liabilities all of your sources and uses of cash income from wages social security disability and so on photocopies of your paycheck and other sources of income cost of living expenses and other expenses repayment terms on all of your debts medical bills and other obligations a description of the ongoing medical care that you need photocopies of statements from your bills bank account and so on write a letter to each of your creditors that explains your financial circumstances provide copies of documentation from your file to back up what you are saying explain that you are making a concerted effort to reduce your living expenses so that you can pay all of your creditors explain that you are having considerable anxiety over finances keep the tone of the letter kind and respectful ask for the creditor creditor’s help in resolving this matter ask for a full or partial forgiveness of the debt some medical establishments may write off some or even 100 of medical debt however they will not do it if you don’t ask ask for less stringent repayment terms on the medical debt you may be able to negotiate a longer term or reduced payments information

References: n/a

Keywords: Finances debt medical care budgeting

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Reassure the cr that age-related vulnerabilities are normal they are accepted by other seniors as part of the aging process and many younger individuals as well most people understand age-related vulnerabilities and do not judge seniors who have to live with these issues share an embarrassing moment from your own life help the cr realize that individuals other than the elderly are susceptible to embarrassing moments encourage the cr to have a sense of humor about life life’s circumstances being able to laugh at yourself can make any uncomfortable situation a bit better as much as possible reinforce the things that the cr does well this will help establish a baseline of positive traits that can be used to help outweigh the vulnerabilities the cr identifies

Materials: n/a

Categories: Communication, Emotional Psychological, Social

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Embarrassment humor vulnerabilities

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Discuss issues with the cr; do not talk at him or her ask questions and allow time for the cr to answer do not try and be a know- it-all and insist on your own way make sure the cr has a chance to express opinions that you will consider bring up one idea at a time take breaks before introducing a new issue or idea commit to never doing for the cr what can be done on his or her own communicate this regularly to the cr during all conversations

Materials: n/a

Categories: Communication, Emotional Psychological, Social, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from information found in the book the complete eldercare planner by joy loverde

Keywords: Communication difficult issues

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Keep in mind that as cr loses the ability to talk clearly he may rely on other ways to communicate his thoughts and feelings for example the cr’s facial expressions may show sadness anger or frustration grasping at his undergarments may tell the care giver cg that cr needs to use the bathroom

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Communication, Medical Physical, Verbal Communication, So-So Verbal Comm, Poor Verbal Comm, Cognitive Awareness, Somewhat Aware, Unaware, Long-Term Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: Go over any natural supplements or herbs you are taking with your healthcare provider to prevent any interactions

References: caring for a person with alzheimer’s disease your easy-to-use guide from the national institute on aging by national institute on aging 2011 available at www nia nih gov

Keywords: Memory loss cognitive impairment communication frustration words toileting feelings facial expressions

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Show a warm loving matter-of-fact manner hold cr cr’s hand while talking to cr

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Communication, Emotional Psychological, Verbal Communication, So-So Verbal Comm, Poor Verbal Comm, Cognitive Awareness, Somewhat Aware, Unaware, Long-Term Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: With the responsible personwho will assume care if regular cg is absent

References: caring for a person with alzheimer’s disease your easy-to-use guide from the national institute on aging by national institute on aging 2011 available at www nia nih gov

Keywords: Communication cognitive impairment connecting relationships bonding talking memory loss

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed