Adjusting Your Home for Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is not only difficult for the loved one suffering through the disease, but for the caretakers as well. According to Redfin, “Alzheimer’s disease affects about 5.4 million Americans, about 5.2 million of which are 65 and older. It can be your grandparent, your cousin, your sibling or even your parent who faces the diagnosis. Eventually, those with Alzheimer’s require round-the-clock care, and for many families, that means taking the loved one into their own home.” If you are bringing your loved one into your home, here are four questions you need to ask to make sure your home is prepared.
-
How Do I Make My Home Safer?
Now that you are considering taking in your elderly loved one, you must reevaluate the safety of your home. While your home may seem harmless, you must understand that for someone suffering from Alzheimer’s, even a benign household object such as a toaster can become a dangerous hazard.
Do a walk-through of your home and check what appliances, cleaners, silverware, and prescription medications are easily accessible. In a sense, you will be “childproofing” your home by locking up poisonous cleaners and medications and tucking away knives and other sharp utensils out of sight and reach. It’s hard to predict what your loved one might do when they’re confused. Avoid a bad situation altogether by being proactive about their safety.
-
What Can I Do to Help Them Stay Independent?
Even without Alzheimer’s, mobility can be difficult for elderly loved ones. The biggest hurdles you might face in your home is your staircase and bathroom. If you have more than one floor in your home, shift rooms around so that everything your loved one needs can be accessed all on one floor. If there’s no way around your senior having to use the stairs, you’ll need to come up with alternative solutions, such as adding handrails or traction strips on each step to lessen the risk of falling. The bathroom poses a different set of challenges. If possible, have their bathroom remodeled to accommodate their mobility level. Widen the doors, install a walk-in or low-profile bath or shower, and non-slip flooring. Don’t forget to turn the hot water heater down, too, to prevent scalding. Your senior loved one will appreciate having the ability to move freely and maintain his or her hygiene routine unassisted for as long as possible.
-
How Can I Make My Home More Comfortable?
Making a big move to a new home late in life can be disruptive. When you factor in Alzheimer’s, such a big change can easily confuse and upset your loved one. There are several ways you can adjust your home to make it more comfortable. Make sure to keep rooms clean and tidy, and arrange your furniture in a way that makes sense to your family member. A new home also means that your loved one will have trouble knowing the location of various rooms and objects. You can help them get around more easily by labelling rooms, drawers, and even appliances to help your loved one quickly adjust if they become confused.
-
How Can I Prevent Sundowning?
Sundowning is a common phenomenon that occurs within many elderly adults. Sundowning occurs as the sun begins to go down and the house begins to darken. When a loved one is affected, it means that their mood can shift later in the day, occasionally sparking depression or even angst and anxiety. The best way to keep your family member from being affected is to include plenty of lighting in your home to keep the environment bright during all parts of the day.
It takes an enormous amount of personal strength to live with Alzheimer’s. By letting your family member into your home, you are showing that you genuinely care for them and want them to live comfortably and happily. Taking these steps will help both you and your loved one adjust to sharing a space, and hopefully lead to more happy moments together.
Story by Lydia Chan for Burnett Builders
Proudly serving most of Butler County including Ross, Fairfield, Hamilton, Oxford, West Chester, Trenton, Millville, Monroe, Mason, Seven Mile, Somerville, Camden, Crosby Township and other portions northern Hamilton County.
