The Best Way a Home Health Aide Can Help Alzheimer's Patients

Alzheimer's patients can stay in their homes though all stages of the disease with the assistance of a home health aide. Home health aides can be nonmedical or medically trained personnel who help with activities of daily living. These include grooming, toileting and assistance at meal times. Observing some basic tips and practices will allow the aide to best help someone with Alzheimer's disease.

Redirect and Center

• People who suffer from Alzheimer's may need redirection throughout the day. During meal times they may forget how to use a spoon or fork, and yet be too embarrassed to ask for assistance. They also may simply forget it is time to eat and try to leave the table. The aide should always make gentle, yet firm suggestions, to steer them back and focus on the task at hand. Redirection also is critical when the patient becomes agitated or confused. Encouraging a variety of activities that a patient enjoys is key: anything from going outdoors and gardening, to listening to favorite show tunes, can help redirect patients and lessen stress. Always speak calmly and slowly.

Learn Life Story

• Learn the patient's life storyt. A patient's history is critical to understanding his actions and methods of communication. People with Alzheimer's have a lifetime of history and memories, but may not be able to remember facts and details. Ask family members and friends how the patient met his spouse, where he grew up and what hobbies he has enjoyed. The life story can include the type of religious practices, as well as what music he listened to. By learning a person's history and accomplishments, an aide can reminisce about past memories and better understand certain actions of the patient. For example, if a person was a teacher for many years, her daily actions may include believing she is grading school papers, or waiting for children to come back from recess.

Tactile Stimulation

• Massages, lavender oils and touching different textures can stimulate someone with Alzheimer's who may not be able to communicate verbally. Hand massages as well as other forms of massage can relax a patient who suffers from increased anxiety. Essential oils can be used during the massage, or simply added onto a handkerchief for the patient to hold. Citrus can be used in the morning to increase stimulation and appetite. Lavender used in the evening, commonly a restless time for Alzheimer's patients, aides in relaxation and rest. Tactile stimulation is also important to an Alzheimer's patient. Allow the patient to touch different fabrics that have different textures. Soft balls and other rubbery items made of different materials can be grasped in the hand and squeezed. The stimulation of touching different material can help relax a patient, as well as bring back memories. For example, touching silk and lace can remind a woman of her wedding gown.

Keep Routines

• Routines are critical to Alzheimer's patients. Having a routine establishes critical parts of the day, including meal and hydration times, as well as toileting times. Meals are best kept to small portions and served throughout the day. Often, an Alzheimer's patient may not want to eat breakfast, so having plenty of mini-meals and snacks available will decrease the chance of unhealthy weight loss. A home health aide also can add liquids into the daily routine. Having a glass of cranberry juice on the patio each morning will enforce a routine and also encourage hydration. In the early stages of Alzheimer's a patient can function at a higher level when a basic daily routine is kept in place.

Treat Individual as an Adult

• Home health aides must always remember that people with Alzheimer's are adults. Give them a choice of what they would like to eat or drink by offering two different suggestions. Never talk down to someone or use childish words or phrases such as "Do you need to go potty?". Do not refer to adult briefs as diapers. If a patient needs assistance eating, do not make him feel like a child---he may feel embarrassed that he must be fed by someone else. If a patient needs to have a protective towel or apron placed over her clothing while she eats, do not refer to it as a bib. This allows her a measure of dignity and respect, which is critical to her well-being.