There are several tools available to help families care for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease. However, you may not realize something as simple as Post-it Notes can be extremely useful for Alzheimer’s caregivers. If you have these sticky notes somewhere in your house, you can use them to manage your caregiving duties. Here are some ways using Post-it Notes can help you provide better care for your elderly loved one.
1. Provide Simple Directions for Tasks
Seniors with Alzheimer’s sometimes remember to do things such as get dressed in the morning, but they may forget to put on their socks before their shoes. You can remedy this type of concern by writing down the instructions for tasks your loved one does independently. By writing instructions on Post-it Notes, you can remind your loved one how to use the television remote, feed the dogs, prepare breakfast, and much more.
There are many reasons seniors might need assistance at home. Some may require regular mental stimulation due to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, while others might only need part-time assistance with exercise and basic household tasks. Home Care Assistance is a leading at-home care provider. Families rely on our expertly trained caregivers to help their senior loved ones maintain a high quality of life.
2. Help Seniors Use Technology
Keeping up with passwords or trying to figure out how to turn on the computer can become difficult for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease. Jot down the password to your loved one’s social media account and place it under the keyboard or in another spot where only he or she knows to look. You can also put a sticky note on the back of your loved one’s phone that gives him or her directions on how to make important phone calls.
3. Work with Other Caregivers
It’s always important to communicate with your loved one’s other caregivers to ensure continuity of care. Take a pad of Post-it Notes and place it in a prominent area of the house so you can leave notes regarding your loved one’s mood and preferred activities for the day. You can also use sticky notes for medication management by having each caregiver make a note every time he or she reminds your loved one to take a dose.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of homecare Montgomery, Alabama, families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
4. Highlight Essential Areas of the Home
Post-it Notes come in bright, eye-catching colors that can draw your loved one’s attention to the places he or she needs to go. For instance, you can place a sticky note above the sink to remind your loved one to wash his or her hands after using the bathroom. Alternatively, you can label the kitchen cabinets and drawers with what each one contains so your loved one can easily prepare a meal.
5. Create a Checklist System
Use Post-it Notes to create a checklist to manage your loved one’s daily activities. Simply write tasks your loved one does independently on the sticky notes and place them in order in a common location, such as on the refrigerator. Have your loved one remove each note as each task is accomplished.
Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors to manage without assistance, and it can be just as challenging for families who don’t have experience in providing Alzheimer’s care. Montgomery Home Care Assistance provides Alzheimer’s care seniors and their families can depend on. Our proprietary Cognitive Therapeutics Method was designed to help seniors with Alzheimer’s and other memory-related conditions live happier and healthier lives. To learn about our quality-assured at-home care services, give us a call at (334) 593-3988 today.