Upon receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, patients tend to look at the worst aspects of the disease and don’t realize that there are ways to manage that will help them lead a more normal life. The proper coping skills will help you to maintain your independence and accept the difficulties that come with the disease. Your life does not stop because of your illness, it just means you have to change the way you do things.
Acceptance
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Denial is the largest hurdle to overcome and trying to cover up mistakes you are making will just put off managing the disease properly. Stay active, respond to challenges the best you can and you will maintain control over your life.
Learn how to cope
Determine which tasks you are having the most problems with. If it’s how to do something, write down the instructions. If it’s forgetting to do something, find ways to remind yourself when something has to be done, such as taking medications. Some tasks may not even be necessary so prioritize and only do what needs to be done. What works for someone else may not work for you. Since each of us is good at different things, find the easiest way for you to get through your day and accomplish your tasks.
More Tips to Manage Alzheimer’s
- Ensure that your living environment is safe: make sure it is calm and quiet
- Don’t multi-task; doing one item at a time helps you to focus more on what you are doing
- Let others help; you are not alone and don’t need to do everything yourself
- Find a way to handle stress; light exercise and lots of sleep will help
- Don’t worry about what is out of your control; take care of what you can control
- A routine or schedule makes things easier; make a list for the day
- Don’t stop interacting with others; a pet can also be a source of comfort
- See your doctor regularly and find out what others are doing to manage their symptoms
This article is intended for information purposes only. Please consult your health practitioner if you are experiencing any symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
