The later stages of Alzheimer’s disease are complicated for so many reasons. One of the most frustrating aspects from your point of view might be that you’re losing the ability to communicate with your senior. Alzheimer’s disease can keep her from letting you know the simplest things, like when she’s uncomfortable and needs your help to move position.
It’s Important to Help Her Shift Positions Regularly
Shifting positions regularly is going to help to relieve pressure on your senior’s joints and help to reduce the likelihood that she’ll develop pressure sores. The problem, however, is that in the later stages of Alzheimer’s your senior is less able to share with you when she’s uncomfortable and when she needs to move. It’s best to help her to shift positions based on time since the last change, because that will help to ensure she’s moving before she’s experiencing bigger problems.
Pillows, Wedges, and Cushions All Help with Positioning
Blankets, wedges, pillows, and smaller cushions can all help you to position your senior properly. They prop her up and help her to stay in the new position without feeling as if she’s slipping or sliding. They’re also soft, usually softer than a mattress, and can help to reduce pressure issues even more. Blankets or towels can even be folded or used in different configurations when you need an unusual shape.
Use Proper Body Mechanics
Something else to consider is how you twist and use your own body during this process. Helping your senior to get into a more comfortable position should never be something that causes you to experience pain or injury. Learn how to use proper body mechanics to lift and shift your senior. End-of-life care providers can help you to learn how to do these things safely without hurting yourself.
Lean on Experienced Help
End-of-life care providers can help you in so many ways with this situation. They can help you to learn what it looks like when your senior is uncomfortable and how to make sure that you’re moving her into a position that’s a comfortable one. Their experience can give you a much shorter and faster learning curve, helping you to keep your senior as physically comfortable as possible.
It’s frustrating to want to help your elderly family member to be as comfortable as possible and yet to feel as if you’re not able to understand exactly what she needs. As you perform this service for her more often, you’ll learn her individual preferences and signals. End-of-life care providers are there to help you to interpret, too.
If you are or a loved one is considering end-of-life care in Decatur, GA, please call the caring staff at Arcturus Hospice and Palliative Care today. Call 678-383-9973 today to speak to our care team.
Kate Gorinshteyn is the director of marketing at Arcturus Health Care. Arcturus is a fast-growing Hospice striving to provide the highest level of quality care to patients faced with life-limiting illnesses. Our goal is to make each patient as pain-free as possible and give physiological, emotional and spiritual support to both the patient and family. We understand that the decision change from curative to comfort care is difficult, and our team is trained to help you every step of the way!
We are proud to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.