If you are a caregiver for someone with memory loss — such as from dementia — your goals are to assist in long-term planning, adapt daily routines, and provide companionship, emotional support, and structure — all while preserving their quality of life and dignity.
Exactly how much support your loved one needs will vary based on the severity of their condition. “Memory loss can often be a progressive illness that starts with just forgetting a few things and progresses to worsening problems with memory, and ultimately problems [with] function,” says Nathan E. Goldstein, MD, palliative care specialist at Mount Sinai Beth Israel.
Nathan E. Goldstein, MD, is a professor of geriatrics and palliative medicine at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
Theresa Altilio, ACSW, LCSW, is a clinical social worker at Mount Sinai Beth Israel.
References
Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.). Activities.
Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.). Be a healthy caregiver.
Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.). Caregiving.
Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.). Communication and Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s Association. (2017). Safety plans for caregivers.
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