Living with Alzheimer's Disease
Around the house A diagnosis of AD doesn’t mean that there has to be a lot of immediate change in the person’s home. In fact, keeping things familiar is often the best course of action. Most required alterations accommodate the fact that the person might be less steady on their feet or are beginning to be more confused about the things around them. Hence, the tips below are simple ways in which to accomplish these minor, but important, changes.
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Make the house a safe and easy place in which to move around and avoid too much clutter. As with any home, trailing electrical flexes and sharp-edged or unsteady furniture can be hazards.
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Avoid making unnecessary big changes to the home – this can confuse or distress a person with AD.
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Keep rooms well lit so that all walkways are clearly visible and people can see what they are doing. Leaving a hall and/or bathroom light on at night can also help the person find their way around safely.
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Protect against slippery surfaces, unsecured rugs or uneven steps, which can be potential dangers for those who are unsteady on their feet.
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If stairs are a problem, non-slip strips can be fixed to each step to prevent slipping and reflective or brightly coloured tape can also be useful for marking each step.
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To help with general mobility, devices such as handrails can be fitted at useful places around the house and in the bath.
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Keep objects such as cleaning fluids, poisonous chemicals, sharp implements, tools, and medications out of reach. A person with AD may not intentionally misuse these items, but could require supervision to use them safely when they are confused.
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Install smoke detectors on each floor of the house, so that any danger of fire is immediately obvious.
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Place personal belongings in a specific place in the house.
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Put away breakable items.
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Lock important documents and valuables, such as passports and insurance information, away for safekeeping.
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Keep duplicates of necessary items, such as keys, in a safe place.
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Non-hazardous objects that are in regular daily use should be left in obvious, easy-to-reach places.
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If the person smokes, be with him/her at all times when they are actively smoking to avoid accidental fires.
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Arrange regular daily exercise for the person with AD in order to help limit their desire to wander.