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How to Approach Someone With Alzheimer’s

Audrey Ostoyic • September 2, 2022

We’ve all seen items like this in the news where a public servant comes upon an elderly person and doesn’t realize they have dementia or Alzheimer’s and startles the person. This can lead to outrages which make the servant think they are being uncooperative and can lead to serious bodily injury to the elderly person.

There have also been times in restaurants when a spouse orders for the other one and the server gets agitated by this. You have to calmly state, that my spouse (or significant other) has Alzheimer’s and can’t order for him or herself. 

I know it’s sad, but people don’t understand and therefore don’t know how to approach someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s. We’ll look at some ways to, and not to, approach someone with Alzheimer’s or related dementia.

Please remember, the person with Alzheimer’s brain is damaged, so they don’t process information the way they used to. They can’t always remember who you are, so to them, chances are you are a stranger approaching them. Proceed with caution.

5 Tips on approaching someone with Alzheimer’s

  1. Make sure you always approach from the front , never from behind. We can all be startled when someone approaches us from behind, but with a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia, this can cause a flight or fight response and they may lash out at you.
  2. Approach them very slowly . Approaching too quickly can also cause a flight or fight response and this is never good for you or the elder person.
  3. Stand with your hands at your sides . Do not stand with your arms on your hips or crossed in front of you. This may look like you are being confrontational and this will cause them to shut down. Remember, their brain is not functioning like it used to so be patient.
  4. Don’t bend over them when talking or visiting. Pull up a chair or crouch down so you are at eye level or just below. You don’t want them to think you are trying to overpower them.
  5. Once they are comfortable with you and should you decide to go out to lunch or for a walk, offer your hand. Do not reach out and grab their arm or hand ; this again will cause the flight or fight response and you will lose any trust you have just earned. 

Hopefully, the tips above will help you when approaching a person with Alzheimer’s or related dementia. Should you feel you need more guidance, we at Assistance Living Made Simple hold five (5) Alzheimer’s caregiver support groups a month; check out the resources tab to find the one closest to you. 

Just please, remember one thing, the person with Alzheimer’s brain does NOT function like it used to; they do NOT remember like they used to; PLEASE be patient! We are here to help you; you do NOT have to go this alone!!

Make Valentine’s Day Special for Seniors

By Donna Nichols • February 5, 2025
Valentine’s Day tends to zero in on romantic love, but what about our seniors? They too often get forgotten. We have some ways to make Valentine’s Day special for them too. Spend the day with your loved one. Spending quality time with a loved one is more important to a senior than anything else. There is no greater gift than time and please make sure you have enough, so you are not rushed. Do your elderly loved one have a favorite meal? Perhaps you can prepare it for them, or if they are able, you can prepare it together. How fun would that be for you both? Be sure to discuss the enjoyment it brought you while you are sharing the meal together. How about a game of name that love song? You could prepare a playlist of love songs from the generation and play them to see how many they get correct. Or, if you can sing, you can sing some for them and see if they can recollect them. Take some time for reminiscing, go through old photo albums, or ask about old times. Ask them about when you were young and what trouble you caused; this will give you all something to laugh (or cry) about. Has your loved one been cooped up all winter? Take them out for a nice lunch, or weather permitting, a picnic in the park. Go for coffee and a donut, then head out to see a movie. Make a “date” of it. Maybe your senior is into crafts. You can design special Valentine’s Day cards for other family members. This way your senior can express their love for them and send it to them in their own unique way. You can create other greeting cards as well. Bake some special treats together. Does your senior have some favorite cookies or cake? You could bake it together, or you can bake it for them. Then you can enjoy it after you have the meal you prepared together. Yummy, delicious!! You can watch some romantic movies together if they prefer to stay in the house or the weather isn’t so good. If they like to color, you can buy them some of those large coloring books and you can color together. Don’t forget the decorations and the flowers! Make the house or apartment as festive as possible. Even if they live in as assisted living community, you can still decorate their room to the nines! Make it as festive as possible! If you live in another state or can’t be close to your senior for Valentine’s Day, how about sending them a specially crafted care package. You can hand make some gifts, add some photos of family and friends, and send a personally recorded message. You can bake some homemade treats and incorporate some things that are of personal interest to them. This will show how much you care for them and make their Valentine’s Day extra special even if you can’t be with them.  There are so many ways to make Valentine’s Day special for seniors. Let’s not forget about them; make sure to show them they are so loved too!

February is National Heart Month

By Donna Nichols • February 4, 2025
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Hydration Tips for the Winter

By Donna Nichols • January 8, 2025
I’ve written many blogs about the importance of staying hydrated in the summer, but did you know it’s just as important to stay hydrated in the winter months? I’ve shared some important tips on how to stay hydrated in the winter and why. Cold, dry air can dehydrate you easily and quickly. Even if you don’t feel thirsty. Proper hydration can help regulate your body temperature, maintain healthy organ function, and prevent fatigue, dry skin, and headaches. In the colder months, you do not feel thirsty, that’s why it’s so important to make sure you drink plenty of water. Why is winter hydration so important? Colder air tends to be drier causing moisture to evaporate through your breathing which can cause dehydration. In colder weather, you may not feel as thirsty, causing you to become dehydrated quickly. Also, wearing more clothing traps sweat inside your clothing causing more fluid loss. What are some of the benefits of staying hydrated in the winter? • Drinking enough water helps keep your skin hydrated and prevents dryness. This will help with that dry, itchy skin feeling we all get in the winter. • Water helps your body maintain a regular core temperature. Which is so important to maintain in the winter. • Drinking plenty of water supports your immune system, which helps fight off winter colds and the flu. We all want to fight those germs off! • When you are dehydrated, you become tired easily, so drinking plenty of water helps keep your energy levels up. How do you stay hydrated in the winter? • Make sure you drink plenty of water. Set reminders if you must; you probably won’t feel as thirsty in the winter, but you need to keep drinking that water! • You don’t have to drink cold water; room temperature water works. You can also drink tea or water with lemon, as long as you’re getting your water. • If you’re going out, carry a water bottle with you to ensure you have water to drink. • Eat fruits and vegetables that contain water. Tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, watermelon, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumber, apples, and pineapple are just a few that contain high water contents. • If you think you’re dehydrated, check your urine; if it’s a darker color, that can suggest dehydration. Urine should be a pale, yellow color. As you can see, staying hydrated in the winter is just as important as staying hydrated in the summer, if not more. In the winter you don’t realize you are thirsty therefore you tend not to drink as much water as you should. This has the potential of wreaking havoc on your body. Please make sure you drink plenty of water in the wintertime as you do in the summertime. We have rebranded our company, we are now Assisted Senior Services! Call us for ANYTHING SENIOR!! 386-847-2322!
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