What are ways to provide support when a close friend or loved one receives an Alzheimer’s diagnosis? Supporting a close friend or family member as they face an Alzheimer’s diagnosis requires empathy, patience, and a willingness to be adaptable as the disease progresses.
As Alzheimer’s impacts behavior, communication, thinking skills, and memory, it can certainly impact relationships and the ability to relate to others. This is a challenge for both Alzheimer’s-impacted individuals as well as those around them. Being present, providing support and understanding, and helping in tangible ways can make a meaningful difference in the life of a friend facing an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Scroll down to learn more about practical ways you can provide support.
Educate Yourself
Taking the time to understand the common symptoms of Alzheimer’s, stages of the condition, and strategies for communicating with an individual living with Alzheimer’s can go a long way towards helping you respond with greater compassion. Frustration can occur without a proper understanding of what your friend or loved one is facing.
Patience and Presence
As the decline progresses, your Alzheimer’s-impacted loved one may become very forgetful. They may forget names or places, become confused, and repeat questions. Experts recommend gently redirecting conversations and providing reassurance, instead of correcting. A calm presence can help reduce anxiety.
Engage Meaningfully
There are many ways to encourage meaningful engagement even when cognitive abilities decline. Many individuals living with Alzheimer’s and dementia enjoy art, looking at old photographs, nature, music, and walks, among other things. These types of activities can improve well-being by promoting happiness, offering opportunities for connection, and stimulating memory.
Support Predictable Routines
Routine and predictable schedules are comforting to someone with Alzheimer’s. Consistency, including regular meal times, predictable sleep schedules, and daily routines, can help reduce confusion.
Compassionate Communication
Using nonverbal cues can convey understanding and warmth, even when the individual experiencing cognitive decline struggles to express themselves with words. Smiles, touch, and eye contact are all valuable nonverbal communication strategies. Look for the emotion, feeling, and meaning behind an individual’s words, even if what they are saying does not make sense. Slow, clear speech and simple sentences can go a long way towards improved communication. Rather than arguing over things that are said, experts recommend simple redirection.
Ongoing Presence
Just showing up matters. Cognitive decline can feel very isolating. Being an ongoing presence in an individual‘s life can go a long way towards practically supporting them. This could take the form of phone calls, visits, cards, shared experiences, or other forms of communication.
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