Advice to other carers

  

• Make the most of what you have and be flexible in your response to changes in behaviour, and be prepared to put yourself second

Learning to be flexible.

 

• Don't go over the top trying to make your relative look as though nothing is wrong with them

Be sensitive to real needs rather than what people are going to think.

 

• Take care of your own mental and physical health. You need these if you are going to be able to continue to be a good carer. Accept help that is offered but don't be upset if some people don't altogether understand what you are going through

Get all the support you can and preserve your own health if you want to continue as a carer.

 

• When you find yourself brooding about the future try instead to remember all the happy times you have had together

Remember all the good things rather than dwelling on the past.

 

• Be honest with yourself about your feelings. Professional counselling can be really helpful to you

Being honest with yourself about how you feel and get help for yourself.

 

• Go on a course to learn how to nurse, particularly learn how to lift someone without injuring yourself
  
• Find out as much as you can about the condition from books, internet, other carers and professional contacts
• Contact Alzheimer's Society
  
• Contact with other carers is one of the best sources of support
• Tell people what is happening. You will be surprised to find how many people have had similar experiences and can help you with sympathy, understanding and advice

The advantage of talking to other carers.

  

• Find out your rights and entitlements and don't be ashamed to insist on getting them
• Organise Power of Attorney sooner rather than late. It becomes much more difficult if you leave it too late.
  
• Be sure to pass on to professional carers any strategies which you have found to be useful. Music is well recognised as causing pleasure for many demented people but one carer regretted that she had not mentioned to his carers that her husband actually continued to enjoy improvising on the piano not to mention other more unusual activities

You are the expert so be sure to pass on what you know to the professional carers.

Advice for professional carers

• There should be a check list to cover all the information a carer is going to need and someone should be responsible for making sure the carer has got a copy of this.
  

There should be a checklist of things carers may need to know.

  

• All professional carers should be aware of the full range of resources including the ones they are not personally responsible for
• Don't overlook the elderly isolated carer who makes few demands
• Listen to the carer, no-one knows more about their own situation than they do
• GPs need to be encouraged to listen to carers who tell them they suspect a relative may be developing Alzheimer's

Families should be allowed to discuss their concerns about a relative who may be developing Alzheimer's disease with that person's GP.

Last reviewed October 2010.

Last updated October 2010.