Alzheimer’s disease causes more than memory loss. Patients develop visual agnosia, the inability to identify objects and people. They develop auditory agnosia, the inability to process sounds, and other agnosias as well. These mental failures are painful to witness.
You can’t change the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, but you can create a safe and relaxing place for your loved one.
Perhaps your loved one has moved in with you. Even if your loved one is in a nursing home, you can influence, and perhaps change, the living space to meet their needs. These action steps are a starting point. As your loved one’s illness progresses, you’ll think of other ways to help.
1. ELIMINATE CLUTTER. Too much clutter is annoying and makes it harder for your loved one to find things. Wipe down your desk, nightstand, and other surfaces. You may want to buy open boxes for storage. I bought a bathroom shelf for my mother, the kind that sits on top of the toilet and is held in place by springs. The open shelves made it easy for you to store and find things.
2. CLEAN ROADS. Remove scattered rugs and make sure there are no obstructions at the entrance. Shorten or coil long electrical cords that could trip your loved one. Move furniture away from the center of the room if your loved one uses a walker.
3. ARRANGE THE FURNITURE. The arrangement of the furniture depends on the degree of dementia of your loved one. First plan the arrangement on paper. I arranged the furniture in my mother’s study. The couch faced her bookcase, which contained Mom’s “treasures.” Her small table and her dining chairs faced the window so she could enjoy the view. After you have arranged the furniture, leave it in its place.
4. USE THE VISUAL KEYS. The Canadian government, in an Internet article called “At Home with Alzheimer’s,” says that you should “mark the apartment door of the person with AD in a very different way, perhaps with a photograph, a wreath or a flag of some kind.” “I hung a wreath of hearts on my mom’s apartment door. Thanks to the wreath, Mom always knew which door was hers. Experiment with other visual cues, like a picture of socks on the front of a sock drawer.
5. INCLUDE FAMILY THINGS. “Alzheimer’s: Soothing the Transition on Moving Day,” an article at http://www.MayoClinic.com, says that it is important for the Alzheimer’s patient to have some familiar things. “Family belongings can trigger feelings of ownership and increase your loved one’s sense of security,” the article states. My mother felt safe in her study because she had her own bedroom furniture, dining table, and her favorite chair.
6. CHOOSE CALM COLORS. Nancy L Mace and Peter V. Rabins, MD, authors of “The 36-Hour Day,” say that “people with brain problems may be less able to distinguish between similar color intensities.” Your loved one may not be able to tell the difference between light blue and light green, for example. Bright colors can be annoying. That’s why the Greater Illinois chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association recommends “calming pastel shades like peach, pink, beige, ivory, baby blues, greens, and lavender.”
7. MARK THE SPACE WITH COLOR. The contrast between light walls and dark railings will help your loved one distinguish the space. The authors of “The 36-Hour Day” suggest painting the risers and stair treads in contrasting colors. Mace and Rabins also say you should “outline doors, mantelpieces, and other things the person bumps into with bright tape in a contrasting color and intensity of color.”
8. BE CAREFUL WITH THE PATTERN. “AD patients see and hear things that have no basis in reality,” according to the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center in San Diego, CA. This point is mentioned in an internet story from The Greater Illinois chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Apparently, residents of a nursing home thought the vines on the wallpaper were snakes and kept hitting the walls. At this time in life, plain fabrics and wallcoverings are better options for your loved one.
9. HAVE ENOUGH LIGHT. Accidents can happen in dimly lit areas or in heavily shaded areas. Make sure there is enough light, especially in the bathroom. Put a nightlight next to the bed and lead the way to the bathroom with additional nightlights. “The 36-Hour Day” says that putting reflective tape around the bathroom door can also help your loved one at night.
10. CUT THE GLARE. Buy matte paint instead of gloss to reduce glare. The floor must also have an anti-glare surface. You can also reduce glare by hanging sheer curtains on the window and installing blinds. Use soft light bulbs in lamps. If your loved one has severe dementia, close the curtains at night and cover the mirrors.
11. AVOID DEFEAT. Hang small signs on doors to keep your loved one from wandering off. You can also hang beaded curtains on open doorways. Install door and window locks in unusual and/or hidden places. The Canadian government, in its “At Home with Alzheimer’s” publication, recommends two locks, a chain lock and a deadbolt, on exit doors. If you have a door that faces a busy street, hang a red STOP sign on the door.
12. ADD LIFE. A growing plant can provide your loved one with weeks of pleasure. However, before you buy a plant, make sure it is non-toxic. Provide a watering can if your loved one can still water the plant. (Check for spills later.) Seeing fish is also enjoyable for people with Alzheimer’s, but if you buy fish, you should take care of it. Your loved one may also benefit from pet therapy.
These action steps will help your loved one feel more secure and calm. As your dementia progresses, you will need to take more steps. The best action step you can take is to keep saying “I love you.”
Copyright 2005 by Harriet Hodgson.
