A diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease comes as a shock. With people who live alone one of their first fears is that some form of incarceration in a hospital or nursing home will quickly follow. The facts however suggest otherwise and even people in fairly advanced states of dementia can continue to live alone so long as they are prepared.
Preparing to Live Alone with Alzheimer's
The better and more organized the system of support the more likely it
is for an individual to live an independent life. With this in mind the
relative/caregiver can prepare in the following ways:
Finances
Inform Others
If people in the local area know what is happening they are more likely
to be supportive and keep a watchful eye out for any changes of routine
or for example, if they find the person wandering. Only people who are likely to have direct
regular contact need be informed, such as the local store, the library,
the church, etc.
Involve the Family
Very often one person is lead caregiver - whether they want the job or
not. Family members need to be recruited as part of the deal to help
keep their relative independent. Depending on the family structure this
may be easier said than done. It remains the case that caregivers need
to look after themselves and so it can be time well spent building a support network.
Involving Others
Outside the family there are a number of places you might turn for
support. This can vary from place to place as some charitable organisations
provide for local needs. Get to know what is around. One place to start
is to locate your local Alzheimer chapter; they can usually provide good intelligence about
things like domestic help, volunteer services, etc.
Home and Person Safety
As dementia progresses home safety issues become more of a priority and need more careful
consideration. Identity bracelets should be considered in case of
wandering. Dangerous items such as bleach may be mistaken and accidentally
swallowed; these and other caustic substances should be locked away.
