From the desk of Rosemary Laird, MD
Founder of Navigating Aging Needs (NAN), LLC
Facing "Fall Back"
For caregivers of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's disease, the time change can pose additional challenges, since the illness itself disrupts their circadian clock and makes the brain less flexible overall. Your loved one may have trouble understanding the switch in their schedules, and have problems adapting to the new routine. Since nightfall arrives an hour earlier, the time change may exacerbate periods of sundowning, with the earlier, fading light being accompanied by increased anxiety, agitation, and restlessness.
Happy New Year!
For a caregiver of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s, that September urge for a fresh start can be a good feeling as well. For many caregivers it may feel as if every minute is filled with something that needs to be done, with your constant managing of your loved one's meals, medications, and appointments. And that can mean pushing aside big, important projects for "sometime later."
Want To Have a Better Day? Plan It!
Time can be your enemy--or your best friend. For a caregiver of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s, finding enough time, making sure that things get done on time, and managing time can all be a challenge. But if it’s done right, planning and scheduling time can be one of the most powerful tools in your caregiver kit.
Spring Forward
The change in time can be even more challenging for your loved one suffering from Alzheimer's. They may not understand that a time change has occurred, and thus efforts to keep to their regular schedule, which is so important in your caregiving efforts, gets thrown off course.