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    Enhancing the Activities of Daily Living
    Enhancing the Activities of Daily Living
    Enhancing the Activities of Daily Living
    Ebook224 pages1 hour

    Enhancing the Activities of Daily Living

    By Laura Town, Karen Hoffman and Rachael Mann

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    About this ebook

    Alzheimer’s disease robs a person of their independence. Not knowing how to bathe, dress, and take care yourself is stressful and frightening. For individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, completing these basic daily tasks can be a difficult, frustrating process. For caregivers, knowing when and how to help your loved one complete these activities in a way that supports both their health and their independence is a struggle.

    This book discusses activities of daily living that commonly present difficulties for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. It also offers information about identifying your loved one’s specific struggles and working through those challenges with them. The simple checklists in this book will help you learn how to assess whether your loved one needs help bathing and dressing and provide that help in a safe and tactful manner. They also discuss how to handle incontinence issues; provide assistance with cooking, housekeeping, and other tasks essential for independent living; and how to cope with behavioral changes like aggression and depression. Finally, they offer tips for communicating with your loved one in the early, middle, and late stages of the disease.

    Through a combination of checklists and practical advice, this book helps you provide safe, encouraging care for your loved one while coping with the stress that accompanies caregiving.

    Every day is different when you live with Alzheimer’s disease. Order now and start learning how to make those days better for everyone.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLaura Town
    Release dateApr 7, 2020
    ISBN9781943414246
    Enhancing the Activities of Daily Living
    Author

    Laura Town

    Laura Town is an experienced author and editor who has contributed to many books for the academic, professional, and lay populations. Laura has written on a variety of topics of special interest to the aging population. She has expertise in the field of finance, and she has contributed to several online nursing courses and texts. Her work has been published by John Wiley and Sons and the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and she has also written for the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA). As an editor, Laura has worked with Pearson Education, Prentice Hall, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, John Wiley and Sons, and the University of Pennsylvania.Laura is the founder and president of WilliamsTown Communications, a company that creates educational courses and texts for publishers, universities, and non-profits. She is also the past president of the Indiana chapter of AMWA.

    Read more from Laura Town

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      Book preview

      Enhancing the Activities of Daily Living - Laura Town

      Title

      By Laura Town, Karen Hoffman, and Rachael Mann

      Published by Omega Press

      Zionsville, IN 46077

      © 2020 Omega Press

      ISBN: 978-1-943414-24-6

      While we have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this book has been obtained from reliable sources, Laura Town, Karen Hoffman, Rachael Mann, and Omega Press are not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. The information is provided as is without warranty of any kind. The information available in this book is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal, financial, or healthcare advice. You should contact your attorney, financial planner, or physician to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. In addition, Laura Town, Karen Hoffman, Rachael Mann, and Omega Press do not endorse any products mentioned in this book, nor do they assume any responsibility for the interpretation or application of any information originating from such content.

      Production Credits:

      Authors: Laura Town, Karen Hoffman, and Rachael Mann

      Publisher: Omega Press

      Distributor: Smashwords

      Photos: All images used under license from Shutterstock.com

      Social media connections:

      Laura Town

      Twitter: @laurawtown

      LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauratown

      Karen Hoffman

      LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/karen-kassel/62/2b/915/

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the authors.

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      Table of Contents

      Introduction

      Chapter 1: Activities of Daily Living

      Checklist: General tips for helping your loved one perform ADL

      Bathing

      Checklist: Assessing whether your loved one needs help bathing

      Checklist: Bathing safety

      Checklist: How to help your loved one bathe

      Checklist: How to give your loved one privacy

      Checklist: What do I do if my loved one refuses to bathe?

      Dressing

      Checklist: Assessing whether your loved one needs help with dressing

      Checklist: How to make it easier for your loved one to choose their clothing

      Checklist: How to help your loved one dress

      Checklist: How to deal with a loved one who has forgotten how to dress

      Checklist: What do I do if my loved one refuses to change clothing?

      Personal Hygiene and Grooming

      Checklist: Hygiene and grooming activities

      Checklist: Assessing whether our loved one needs help with personal hygiene and grooming

      Checklist: How to help your loved one perform grooming activities

      Checklist: Grooming safety

      Toileting

      Checklist: Assessing whether your loved one needs help with toileting

      Checklist: Tips for helping your loved one use the toilet

      Checklist: Toileting safety

      Checklist: Dealing with confusion

      Checklist: Dealing with incontinence

      Checklist: Dealing with constipation

      Checklist: Dealing with urinary tract infections

      Eating

      Checklist: Assessing whether your loved one needs help with eating

      Checklist: Techniques to help your loved one eat

      Checklist: How to increase your loved one’s appetite

      Checklist: How to deal with swallowing difficulties and choking

      Communication

      Checklist: Assessing your loved one’s communication difficulties

      Checklist: How to communicate with your loved one with mild Alzheimer’s disease

      Checklist: How to communicate with your loved one with moderate Alzheimer’s disease

      Checklist: How to communicate with your loved one with severe Alzheimer’s disease

      Mobility

      Checklist: Assessing whether your loved one needs help with mobility

      Checklist: Mobility strategies and techniques

      Checklist: Techniques for transferring your loved one

      Chapter 2: Instrumental ADL

      Shopping

      Checklist: Assessing whether your loved one needs help with shopping

      Checklist: Shopping with your loved one

      Cooking

      Checklist: Assessing whether your loved one needs help with cooking

      Checklist: Safe cooking modifications and techniques

      Housekeeping

      Checklist: Assessing whether your loved one needs help with housekeeping

      Checklist: Housekeeping tips and techniques

      Using the Phone

      Checklist: Assessing whether your loved one needs help using the phone

      Checklist: Techniques to help your loved one use the phone

      Transportation

      Checklist: Assessing whether your loved one needs help with transportation

      Checklist: Helping your loved one get around independently

      Managing Money

      Checklist: Assessing if your loved one needs help managing money

      Checklist: Helping your loved one manage their money

      Taking Medicine

      Checklist: Assessing whether your loved one needs help with taking medicine

      Checklist: Helping your loved one take medication safely

      Other IADL

      Chapter 3: Behavioral Challenges

      Checklist: Assessing possible behavioral triggers

      Memory Loss

      Checklist: Signs of progressing memory loss

      Checklist: Coping with memory loss

      Difficulty Concentrating

      Checklist: Sings your loved one is having difficulty concentrating

      Checklist: Coping with concentration problems

      Anger

      Checklist: Identifying causes of anger

      Checklist: How to deal with anger

      Aggression

      Checklist: How to deal with aggression

      Psychosis

      Checklist: Signs your loved one is experiencing a psychotic episode

      Checklist: How to deal with a psychotic episode

      Depression

      Checklist: Signs your loved one is depressed

      Checklist: Supporting your loved one with depression

      Other Behavioral Challenges

      Checklist: Other behavioral changes that may occur with Alzheimer’s disease

      Chapter 4: Sleep Problems

      Checklist: Assessing whether your loved one is having difficulty sleeping

      Checklist: Providing a good sleep environment

      Checklist: How to prevent wandering at night

      Sundowning

      Checklist: Basics about sundowning

      Checklist: How to deal with sundowning

      Chapter 5: Making Time to Care for Your Loved One

      Work Life

      Checklist: FMLA Basics

      Family Life

      Conclusion

      About the Authors

      Laura Town

      Karen Hoffman

      Rachael Mann

      A Note from the Authors

      More Titles from Laura Town and Karen Hoffman

      Resources

      Reference List

      Omega Press Sample: How to Save Money on Healthcare

      Introduction

      Nothing about the Alzheimer’s process is easy. One of the more stressful phases for both the individual with Alzheimer’s disease and the caregiver is the gradual loss of independence which results from the inability to perform certain tasks. In general, these tasks fall into one of two categories: activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Broadly defined, ADL are basic self- care tasks necessary for maintaining health and well-being, whereas IADL are more complex tasks essential for independent living.

      Not knowing how to drive, how to cook, how to bathe, or even how to use the toilet is frightening for both you and your loved one. Over time, your loved one may forget how to perform both ADL and IADL, which will increase their need for a full-time caregiver. This lack of independence places an incredible stress and strain on caregivers. What makes this process more confusing is that at the beginning, individuals might remember how to complete tasks on some days and not others. In my (Laura’s) father’s case, he sometimes knew when to use the toilet and other times did not. When he realized that he was becoming incontinent, it added to his depression and he seemed to decline at a faster rate than he previously had. As a caregiver, you must assess whether your loved one needs help with certain tasks and what degree of assistance is required. You also need to understand techniques you can use to help your loved one complete these tasks while retaining as much independence as possible.

      In addition, as the disease progresses you may notice your loved one exhibiting behaviors that are uncharacteristic for their personality. These may range from simply saying things that seem odd or inappropriate to acting in ways that could be dangerous to you, your loved one, or others. Being prepared for these changes and knowing how to respond to them is crucial.

      The checklists in this book will provide you with information you may need to help your loved one perform essential activities and face behavioral challenges. This information is particularly important if you are a live-in caregiver or provide at-home care for your loved one. As you review this information, remember that every individual with Alzheimer’s disease has different strengths and difficulties. As such, the suggestions throughout this book can and should be tailored to fit your loved one’s specific needs.

      Chapter 1: Activities of Daily Living

      Activities of daily living, or ADL, include care and hygiene activities that must be completed in the course of a typical day. In general, the tasks involved in ADL are learned early in life and include things such as taking a bath, getting dressed, and brushing teeth. Activities related to eating, communicating, and moving around are also considered ADL.

      Small declines in the ability to perform ADL—such as missing a bath or wearing a day-old shirt—may pose no imminent danger to your loved one. If left unchecked, however, ADL declines can lead to illness, infection, and other serious health issues. As a caregiver, you must recognize where potential needs exist and be prepared to offer supportive, low-pressure assistance to your loved one. The following checklist discusses tips for helping your loved one perform ADL.

      Checklist: General tips for helping your loved one perform ADL

      When helping with ADL, involve your loved one as much as possible. If you start taking over activities, your loved one will forget how to do them on their own much more quickly.

      Offer help as tactfully and compassionately as possible. Treat your loved one with dignity at all times. Your attitude as a caregiver will be reflected in your loved one’s actions.

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