Can Someone with Alzheimer’s Disease Be Independent?

Companion Care at Home in Brentwood CA
Companion Care at Home in Brentwood CA

Are you noticing your elderly loved one still wants to do things on their own, even though they have Alzheimer’s disease? This is quite common, at least in the early stage of this disease. If you and companion care at home providers are recognizing your elderly loved one’s desire to be independent, it may be best to indulge in that for as long as possible. There are actually some great ways that someone with Alzheimer’s disease can continue being independent.

Involving Them in the Community

One of the ways that your elderly loved one can be independent is by getting involved in their community. For example, your elderly loved one might be able to stack books on shelves at the library as a volunteer. Maybe, they could help load tables at a community-wide garage sale. Depending on your elderly loved one’s current state, it may be best if you or a senior care provider were with them in the community when they were doing these things. However, as long as your elderly loved one is doing okay in the community, it may actually be good for them to be around others.

Improving Their Environment

If you or a companion care at home provider recognizes that your elderly loved one wants to stay independent, there are ways you can help them in their home, too. One of the best things you can do is to improve their environment. If your elderly loved one is going to be doing things on their own, you must keep in mind their safety. You may want to get duller knives and get rid of the sharper ones. It may also be a good idea to hire home care providers to be in the kitchen whenever your elderly loved one is in there. These are just some ideas on how to improve your elderly loved one’s environment, so they are safer, but can still be somewhat independent.

Use Technology

Is your elderly loved one still in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease? If so, and you know they want to continue being independent for as long as is possible, it may be good to put cameras in their home. With technology the way it is these days, you can even get security cameras that allow you to speak to your elderly loved one. This way, you can check on your elderly loved one through the camera and ask them questions. If you get the right cameras, they can talk back to you through them, as well.

Conclusion

These are some ways that someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be independent. It is important to note that the further your elderly loved one progresses into this disease, the less independent they can be. However, in the meantime, you can use these tips and others to help them stay independent for longer.

Sources
https://www.loc.gov/nls/resources/general-resources-on-disabilities/resources-senior-citizens-families/
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/aging-place-growing-older-home

If you or an aging loved one is considering companion care at home in Brentwood, CA, please contact the caring staff at Provident Care Home Care today at (209) 578-1210.