A Caregiver’s Guide to a Supportive Home
A daughter who’s been there shares 9 tips on tailoring a home for a loved one with dementia
Shana Levy McCracken
April 26, 2017
Houzz Contributor. Shana is a sustainability consultant who lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a Green MBA as well as a master's degree in Culture, Ecology & Sustainable Community and a bachelor's in Conservation & Resource Studies. Shana has been an environmental communications professional for over 20 years now.
Houzz Contributor. Shana is a sustainability consultant who lives and works in the... More
It’s not easy being a caregiver to a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. I learned this the hard way when my father was diagnosed five years ago and began to need a lot more help. In the beginning, he was in an independent-living situation with most meals and some entertainment provided. But eventually he needed more supervision, and until we got him into adult day care, it made sense for him to spend daytime hours at our home. There have also been times when we needed to fill gaps between day care or before we could make a new housing arrangement for him.
From this experience, going through caregiver training, and doing a good bit of reading on the subject, I came up with ways to make the space work for my dad, as well as for my husband and me. With so many people in similar situations these days, I thought I would share a few with you.
Please note that there are many forms of dementia and different stages within each disease. It may be that some of these tips won’t be practical right now but will be in a year or two. Or a few won’t be appropriate at all for your loved one. See what works for your family member right now, and come up with your own methods. (Please share them in the Comments when you do.) Dealing with an ever-changing condition is really all we caregivers can do.
From this experience, going through caregiver training, and doing a good bit of reading on the subject, I came up with ways to make the space work for my dad, as well as for my husband and me. With so many people in similar situations these days, I thought I would share a few with you.
Please note that there are many forms of dementia and different stages within each disease. It may be that some of these tips won’t be practical right now but will be in a year or two. Or a few won’t be appropriate at all for your loved one. See what works for your family member right now, and come up with your own methods. (Please share them in the Comments when you do.) Dealing with an ever-changing condition is really all we caregivers can do.
1. Declutter your home. One of the most important goals of caring for people with dementia — besides keeping them from physical harm — is to keep them emotionally on an even keel. Reducing stimuli in the person’s environment is one way to do this. A serene environment is more conducive to a serene mind, and the reduced confusion will help you both.
2. Manage the light. Joanne Koenig Coste wrote a book called Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s, which I highly recommend. In it, she tells a story of an older couple dealing with the wife’s dementia. Although uncertain of how it would go, the husband invites guests over. An emotional outburst on the part of the wife baffles everyone and results in the guests having to leave early.
Afterward the husband does a brilliant thing: He literally puts himself in his wife’s place, sitting where she had been during the visit. Right away, he notices a terrible glare from the window across the room. Unable to identify what the problem was and express her need for a remedy, she signaled her distress the only way she knew how. After that, the husband is able to control the light in his wife’s environment and prevent future disturbances.
2. Manage the light. Joanne Koenig Coste wrote a book called Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s, which I highly recommend. In it, she tells a story of an older couple dealing with the wife’s dementia. Although uncertain of how it would go, the husband invites guests over. An emotional outburst on the part of the wife baffles everyone and results in the guests having to leave early.
Afterward the husband does a brilliant thing: He literally puts himself in his wife’s place, sitting where she had been during the visit. Right away, he notices a terrible glare from the window across the room. Unable to identify what the problem was and express her need for a remedy, she signaled her distress the only way she knew how. After that, the husband is able to control the light in his wife’s environment and prevent future disturbances.
Another light-related challenge is the phenomenon known as “sundowning.” This is when the sun setting prompts feelings of depression and anxiety in those with dementia. A very common symptom, sundowning can be quite distressing to the person suffering from the disease, as well as to those around him or her.
To help combat this symptom in your own home, you may want to install more blinds or drapes, or to move furniture so that those who are seated have the windows behind them. Toward the end of the day, increased artificial light can actually help minimize the effects of sundowning. Consider putting a few lights on a timer to eliminate the need for you to remember to turn them on. This can also be helpful because it keeps changes in light more consistent from day to day.
To help combat this symptom in your own home, you may want to install more blinds or drapes, or to move furniture so that those who are seated have the windows behind them. Toward the end of the day, increased artificial light can actually help minimize the effects of sundowning. Consider putting a few lights on a timer to eliminate the need for you to remember to turn them on. This can also be helpful because it keeps changes in light more consistent from day to day.
3. Eliminate unnecessary noise. Think of it as decluttering the sound space in and around your home. Although you may be able to enjoy or tune out a sound like a radio or a wind chime, your loved one may not. This can result in a kind of sensory overload that can cause distress. Once again, the goal is a peaceful atmosphere that will keep your family member calm and unperturbed.
Less truly is more when it comes to dementia, and what may feel deadly dull to you could be exactly what your family member needs. So keep the stereo off and box up the wind chimes for a while. If you have a dog that tends to bark when the mail carrier or a neighbor walks by, close the blinds or arrange the furniture so that your pet is less likely to see and be provoked by what’s going on outside.
If you live in an urban or other area with frequent loud sounds that are outside your control (like sirens from emergency vehicles), a white-noise machine may help mask them.
4. Set up an alarm system. Wandering is a common byproduct of dementia, and it can be quite dangerous. One day, I received a call from my father, who found himself standing on a median in the middle of a busy intersection. He was frozen there, unable to get himself to safety on the other side of the street, let alone back home.
To prevent scary situations like this, it’s good to have a system in place that lets you know when your family member is attempting to leave on his or her own. There are systems designed specifically for this purpose, such as doormats that sound an alarm when walked on. However, you can set up something as simple as a bell attached to the inside of the front door. A bell from a Christmas decoration can be repurposed and work just as well as something fancier.
When you hear the bell, you can go for a walk with the person or gently redirect him or her to another activity.
Less truly is more when it comes to dementia, and what may feel deadly dull to you could be exactly what your family member needs. So keep the stereo off and box up the wind chimes for a while. If you have a dog that tends to bark when the mail carrier or a neighbor walks by, close the blinds or arrange the furniture so that your pet is less likely to see and be provoked by what’s going on outside.
If you live in an urban or other area with frequent loud sounds that are outside your control (like sirens from emergency vehicles), a white-noise machine may help mask them.
4. Set up an alarm system. Wandering is a common byproduct of dementia, and it can be quite dangerous. One day, I received a call from my father, who found himself standing on a median in the middle of a busy intersection. He was frozen there, unable to get himself to safety on the other side of the street, let alone back home.
To prevent scary situations like this, it’s good to have a system in place that lets you know when your family member is attempting to leave on his or her own. There are systems designed specifically for this purpose, such as doormats that sound an alarm when walked on. However, you can set up something as simple as a bell attached to the inside of the front door. A bell from a Christmas decoration can be repurposed and work just as well as something fancier.
When you hear the bell, you can go for a walk with the person or gently redirect him or her to another activity.
5. Create an indoor space. Give your loved one a special place to sit and doze. A chaise is perfect for this, but a comfortable chair with an ottoman or a couch could work just as well. The important thing is to keep it consistent, a place the person can return to each visit and feel comfortable.
In terms of placement, make sure this special seating area is out of the way of any household hustle and bustle, yet still within view. That way, your family member can relax and not be in the way, but you can keep an eye out and ensure the person’s safety.
It’s nice to have a coffee or side table nearby where you can place an item or two to keep your loved one happily occupied. The two biggest hits for my dad turned out to be a book full of pictures of tools and a small mbira, or thumb piano. But your family member will be different. Try various items and don’t overload the person with too much stuff. Commit to a decluttered space and stick to it.
In terms of placement, make sure this special seating area is out of the way of any household hustle and bustle, yet still within view. That way, your family member can relax and not be in the way, but you can keep an eye out and ensure the person’s safety.
It’s nice to have a coffee or side table nearby where you can place an item or two to keep your loved one happily occupied. The two biggest hits for my dad turned out to be a book full of pictures of tools and a small mbira, or thumb piano. But your family member will be different. Try various items and don’t overload the person with too much stuff. Commit to a decluttered space and stick to it.
6. Create an outdoor space. Create a safe space outside where your loved one can enjoy some fresh air, the sounds of birds and the warm sun on nice days. Make sure the area is enclosed, and perhaps add another bell to the gate. Dappled sun or shade is preferable to full sun; a bench or chair under a tree or an umbrella is a good idea.
A year or two ago, I provided my dad with a magazine to look at when he went outside. Now that the disease has progressed, he doesn’t need as much stimulation and can sit contentedly in our backyard for a half-hour or more with nothing but a comfortable chair and his Panama hat. Because he will frequently doze off, I’ve learned to set a timer on my phone so that I don’t forget that he is out there and leave him for too long!
A year or two ago, I provided my dad with a magazine to look at when he went outside. Now that the disease has progressed, he doesn’t need as much stimulation and can sit contentedly in our backyard for a half-hour or more with nothing but a comfortable chair and his Panama hat. Because he will frequently doze off, I’ve learned to set a timer on my phone so that I don’t forget that he is out there and leave him for too long!
7. Remove unnecessary rugs. Besides being a tripping hazard, rugs can cause confusion and anxiety. Although it may be difficult for those of us with normal cognitive function to understand, a person with dementia may perceive a rug as a hole and try to walk around it or jump over it, or may simply freeze, not knowing what to do. It’s better to get it out of the space altogether.
If you must have a rug, go for something with a low color contrast against the floor (dark against dark or light against light).
If you must have a rug, go for something with a low color contrast against the floor (dark against dark or light against light).
8. Keep fresh clothes at the ready. Prevent embarrassment on the part of your family member, and make things easier for yourself, by keeping a change of clothes handy for him or her. At least one pair of pants and two or three pairs of underwear are the most important items for obvious reasons, but socks and a clean shirt or two are also good to have on hand.
Designate one drawer in a dresser for this purpose to keep your family member’s clothes from getting mixed up with everyone else’s belongings. When an accident does occur, you don’t have to sacrifice your spouse’s clothes or keep your parent waiting while you run the things through the wash.
Soon enough, your loved one will be in a fresh set of clothes and hopefully more content. One of the few blessings of memory loss is that folks suffering from it forget mishaps within a short time and are unlikely to feel embarrassed by them for long.
Designate one drawer in a dresser for this purpose to keep your family member’s clothes from getting mixed up with everyone else’s belongings. When an accident does occur, you don’t have to sacrifice your spouse’s clothes or keep your parent waiting while you run the things through the wash.
Soon enough, your loved one will be in a fresh set of clothes and hopefully more content. One of the few blessings of memory loss is that folks suffering from it forget mishaps within a short time and are unlikely to feel embarrassed by them for long.
9. Provide memories through images. In our home, we have a hallway covered with family photos, old and new. It concerned me in the beginning that these might upset my dad, perhaps causing him to realize that he no longer remembers a family member’s name or reminding him that someone he cared about has passed away.
To the contrary, my dad loves to peruse the pictures in the hall and recall the good times they represent. Because of his short-term memory loss, he can enjoy this activity each time he comes to our house, and sometimes more than once in a single visit.
To the contrary, my dad loves to peruse the pictures in the hall and recall the good times they represent. Because of his short-term memory loss, he can enjoy this activity each time he comes to our house, and sometimes more than once in a single visit.
The author’s father, Walter “Zev” Levy, is pictured in the early 1990s. Photo by Shana Levy McCracken
I have even added photos to the display, knowing how much he likes to spend time in this way. One of the newer additions is a snapshot of him from the early 1990s, when he was still full of vigor. My hope is that this will keep his mood elevated and tranquil.
If you already have treasured photos on display in your home, don’t put them away until you see how they affect your family member. If you don’t have pictures up, think about creating a grouping of pictures somewhere your loved one can enjoy them. A contained space is preferable to scattered throughout the house. That way, visual noise is kept to a minimum, and you have a single place you can come back to and enjoy together.
Continue to capture new memories as well. One day, you’ll treasure this challenging but special time you had with your loved one, and you’ll be glad you took steps to make it as enjoyable as it could be for you both.
More
12 Must-Haves for Aging in Place
Your Total Home Organizing and Decluttering Guide
Life, Love and Purpose Down on the Farm
Houzz guides to accessibility at home
I have even added photos to the display, knowing how much he likes to spend time in this way. One of the newer additions is a snapshot of him from the early 1990s, when he was still full of vigor. My hope is that this will keep his mood elevated and tranquil.
If you already have treasured photos on display in your home, don’t put them away until you see how they affect your family member. If you don’t have pictures up, think about creating a grouping of pictures somewhere your loved one can enjoy them. A contained space is preferable to scattered throughout the house. That way, visual noise is kept to a minimum, and you have a single place you can come back to and enjoy together.
Continue to capture new memories as well. One day, you’ll treasure this challenging but special time you had with your loved one, and you’ll be glad you took steps to make it as enjoyable as it could be for you both.
More
12 Must-Haves for Aging in Place
Your Total Home Organizing and Decluttering Guide
Life, Love and Purpose Down on the Farm
Houzz guides to accessibility at home
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My heart goes out to everyone caring for a loved one with Dementia. I recommend a documentary called "Alive Inside". It was eye opening and full of practical advice. For instance, you would not believe what having a small iPod or other personal music device loaded with their favorite music can do to lift their spirits and their function.
I am uplifted reading so many of these comments. How many people, often juggling very difficult circumstances speak of their time caring (whether past or current) with words like “joy” and “privilege“. So often we are so worried about being “dependent“ and a “burden”. Well done careers.