keeping the peace during a nursing home transition

If your parent has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, it can be difficult to understand what to do next. Not only is this diagnosis difficult to process emotionally, but you also have to take the time to consider your parent's future living with the disease. Here are five ways an assisted living caregiver can help your parent:

1. Reduce Stress: Stress coupled with any disease progresses symptoms, which is true when it comes to suffering from Alzheimer's. This is why reducing stress is key to ensuring that your parent does not fall to the extreme symptoms of Alzheimer's really quickly. Stress is caused by a number of things. This can include fatigue, extreme changes in routine, and more. A caregiver will ensure that your parent is well rested, eats well, and has a consistent routine to help reduce the amount of day to day stress they come into contact with. 
2. Constant Reminders of Routine: Patients with Alzheimer's thrive on routine. When this routine is disrupted, it can cause confusion and stress. A caregiver will ensure that your parent is reminded of the daily routine throughout the day, starting with the morning tasks. Your parent will be awoken gently, reminded of what day it is, and asked to eat breakfast before getting ready for the day. This way, your parent starts to feel in control of the day instead of starting it off in confusion.
3. Plan Activities Accordingly:  While it's good that your parent is able to get outside every day and exercise, it's also important that they get plenty of rest. At an assisted living facility with the assistance of a caregiver, your parent will receive the rest that they need. The caregiver will plan daily activities that surrounding constant resting breaks. Since noise is reduced in these facilities, it allows your parent the ability to rest in almost any space available on the facility. 
4. Work With Patience: Attempting to care for your parent on your own can be a challenge if you do not have the patience for it. Your parent will need constant reminders, especially when suffering from Alzheimer's. They won't remember certain things, and that can be both emotional for yourself and frustrating. Since caregivers are trained to handle these situations, they can work with your parent with the utmost patience. This is important for reducing stress, as well as continuing to keep the routine flowing smoothly. 

When you know these four ways in which an assisted living caregiver can provide help for your parent who is suffering from Alzheimer's, you can see why placing your parent in this situation is definitely the most ideal for their future. To learn more, contact an assisted living facility like Haven  Care.