Some helpful things to consider if you are caring for someone who is living with memory loss:

• Cultivate a relationship with your doctor. If you feel uncomfortable talking to your doctor, search for someone knowledgeable with whom you can easily communicate.
  
  
• Keep in touch with your doctor in order to learn ways to alleviate symptoms and address behavioral problems.
  
  
• Contact organizations for more information about the disease or disorder, treatment options and care-giving resources.
  
  
• Find a support group. Members of the support group have great recommendations based on their own experiences.
  
  
• It helps to make friends who understand your experiences with caregiving stresses.
  
  
• Develop a routine. This allows the person suffering from memory loss to depend on a schedule. As diseases progress and change, so too may the routine.
  
  
• Consider adult day care or respite services to allow time for the caregiver to attend to his or her own needs and to relax, as the stresses of being a caregiver are demanding.
  
  
• Begin to plan for the future both financially and legally. Investigate long-term care options and determine what is covered by insurance and Medicare.
  
  
• Incorporating exercise into your daily routine is beneficial to both the caregiver and the person with memory impairment. It is an enjoyable activity that both people can share. Some ideas for exercise include walking, swimming, dancing, or gardening. Start slowly and build up. Exercise will also help for people to sleep better.
  
  
• Be sure that the person carries identification or wears a medical bracelet at all times in case he or she gets lost or is unable to communicate important information about where you live. This will alert others to his or her identity as well as their medical condition. Keep a recent photograph of the person to help assist police if the person is lost.
  
  
• Visitors are important to those suffering from memory loss. They may not always remember who the visitors are but the human interaction is valuable.

For more information on caregiving:

Alzheimer's Association
http://alz.org

Alzheimer's Disease Education & Referral center
http://www.alzheimers.org

Children of Aging Parents
http://www.caps4caregivers.org

Eldercare Locator
http://www.eldercare.gov

Family Caregiver Alliance
http://www.caregiver.org

The National Institute on Aging Information Center
http://www.nia.nih.gov


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