General Caregiving Tips

Do…

• Keep everything as simple as possible.
• Give instructions one step at a time.
• Keep your loved one occupied with simple chores.
• Remember your loved one will follow you around and want to know where you are at all times.
• Maintain a daily, structured routine.
• Minimize distractions, noise and confusion.
• Provide memory aids and cues when possible.
• Be gentle – provide affection and support.
• Maintain a sense of humor and acknowledge the small successes.
• Get respite time away from your role as a caregiver.

Don’t…

• Expect answers to your questions to be accurate.
• Get irritated when they ask the same question over and over.
• Give them too much responsibility.
• Expect them to properly identify people, places, or things.
• Get upset, raise your voice or scold the patient.
• Take the person’s behavior personally – it’s the disease!
• Argue with the patient to try to rationalize with them.

Expect…

• To have normal feelings such as guilt, anger, sorrow, or helplessness.
• Sleep disturbances.
• Symptoms to worsen in the evening.
• Behavior changes when there are major changes in daily life.
• Patients to be anxious, frustrated and to deny their problems.