What is the role of caregiver in Alzheimer’s treatment?
Answers
Being responsible for a person with dementia can cause physical, psychological, financial, or social difficulties for the caregiver. During the last decade, drugs for Alzheimer’s—specifically cholinesterase inhibitors—have become broadly available in drugstores.
Carers play the critical role of the beginning, administrating, and monitoring patients’ treatment. If the person with dementia is not competent to decide on treatment, the caregiver chooses to on their behalf.
Cholinesterase inhibitors indeed ease the duties of the carer. However, they are still responsible for providing the patient with medication. So, caregivers are integral to the studies around Alzheimer’s treatments.
They give consent on behalf of patients and monitor their progress or possible adverse effects of the treatments. When experts decide on the efficacy of these treatments, they refer to data provided by the patient’s carer.
For more accurate data, caregivers must learn about their patient’s medication. Doing so assures they won’t have unrealistic expectations. Doctors must always speak with a patient’s carer before prescribing drugs for Alzheimer’s.
A dementia caregiver is a skilled professional instructed to identify the symptoms of dementia. They deliver continuous, quality care for a senior with Alzheimer’s. General responsibilities include cautious assistance with the activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and providing various types of additional in-home support. They also help with transportation. They can provide transportation to the doctor’s office and continued transportation for follow-up visits.
Another role they have is reminding medication. Elders who are prescribed medications should be careful to take the proper doses at the right time. Medication non-compliance due to memory issues may result in illness or even death.
Dementia caregivers must remind care recipients to take the right pills and schedule. Alzheimer’s caregivers facilitate routines in everyday living. These professionals specify set times for meals, bathing, and grooming. Bathroom trips, for example, may also be done under supervision to avoid accidents.
The caregivers also prevent wandering. Any old suffering from memory problems and who is mobile is at risk of wandering. Disorientation and confusion are familiar symptoms even in the early stages, which can be overly dangerous, as seniors may become lost or hurt. A senior with Alzheimer’s may turn on the stove and forget to turn it off. A vigilant caregiver will prevent a kitchen fire and deliver ongoing supervision at home while being careful to never leave the senior alone in a vehicle.
Imagine that you can’t remember how to button up your cardigan; you forget what a brush is for, forget you have eaten, and fail to use the toilet. People with Alzheimer’s are terrified most of the time. Imagine trying to make sense of the world when big holes have been blown through your memories. Not knowing creates anxiety, fear, and isolation in people with Alzheimer’s. Holding their hand, brushing their hair, providing human touch and kindness as often as possible would be the role of a caregiver in Alzheimer’s treatment.
But this role changes as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) progresses and largely depends on the stage of AD the person in question. The caregiver should gather as much information as possible about the disease and find the proper physician in the initial step. The level of assistance required by caregivers may also vary from person to person.
Providing emotional support will always be the primary role of caregivers. The caregiver must also encourage social interaction and involvement in hobbies. Understanding the disease, how it will impact the person’s life, and how to order the day and control the environment to decrease confusion will be critical for the caregiver.
Personal and professional opinion plays a significant role in answering this question. Still, almost everyone believes that the role of a caregiver largely depends on the stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD.)
For starters, before the disease progresses, the caregiver should look into the situation and gather as much information as possible. Finding the right professionals to help a loved one is essential in the initial stage. Professionals believe providing emotional support can go a long way in any stage of Alzheimer’s disease as it is the primary purpose.
Caregivers may also ease the process of social interaction for their loved ones by encouraging them to take part in hobbies they find interesting. They may also help seniors depend more on themselves by teaching them how to enjoy the moment and plan for the future. Caregivers should also suggest stress reduction activities such as yoga. These activities help seniors meditate better, which results in better cognitive performance.
