Grandfather with Alzheimer’s Disease Primary Caregiver For Wife
How would my grandpa with Alzheimer’s use his phone to notify my father that something happened to grandma. No one lives in with the grandparents at the moment.
Karleigh Asks The Experts,
Hello!
Both my grandparents are not doing well. My grandfather has dementia/Alzheimer’s, and my grandma has heart issues.
How would my grandpa with Alzheimer’s use his phone to notify my father if something happened to grandma? No one lives with the grandparents at the moment.
Thank you for your amazing resources, btw!
Karleigh
Karleigh,
Thank you for a great question. If your grandfather is your grandmother's primary caregiver, it’s important to understand that he may face mental decline over time.
It sounds like your grandfather is in the very early stages of dementia and may still be able to use a phone. However, what many families do not realize is that a person with dementia often begins to experience difficulty processing situations and retrieving information to develop a response or plan of action.
Your father essentially has two patients. Caring for someone with Alzheimer's Disease can be incredibly challenging. It's crucial to understand the different stages of Alzheimer's and how they impact the person with AD.
Your dad is walking a fine line between making your grandfather feel useful and productive while providing care for your grandmother. Interestingly, the act of caregiving can sometimes slow the progression of the disease, as it encourages your grandfather to stay active and engaged by caring for his wife.
As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, managing daily activities will become increasingly difficult. Common signs include memory loss and challenges completing tasks that require problem-solving or planning. Over time, these symptoms become more pronounced, and other cognitive aspects—such as language and judgment—may also decline significantly.
It’s important to remember that each person with Alzheimer’s experiences the stages differently. Being informed about these stages can help both the person with AD and their caregiver better navigate the disease.
Tips for Supporting Your Grandfather and Grandmother:
- Set up systems: Organize regular appointments, meal plans, and activities.
- Create emergency plans: Compile a list of emergency contacts and resources.
- Monitor progression: Stay informed about Alzheimer’s stages to anticipate and address challenges.
I’ve expanded the information for you to provide a more comprehensive overview. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any additional questions or concerns.
Warm Regards,
Diane Carbo RN
I wanted to share this story of one of my family caregivers It really is a love story.
A Dementia Love Story
More tips for you...
Your concern is being proactive. It is important to put a system in place to monitor your grandfather's mental status. Individuals with dementia lose the ability to problem solve and create a plan of action.
My suggestion is to make sure you are organized and prepared for an unexpected trip to the emergency room. In this case, you need to be prepared for a decline in your grandfather's mental decline.
Getting organized with legal and medical information in one place. Create and maintain an updated medications list for both grandparents.
If your grandfather is making sure your grandmother is taking her medications, you need to put a medication system in place. Your grandfather may not be able to do that over the long run.
I am going to suggest that you look into several tools that can help you monitor your grandfather, I suggest you look into a medical alert system. This will help you and your grandfather, because if he falls, or your grandmother falls, there will be support. The company will be alerted and start calling first responder etc, if there is a medical crisis.
I know this is an intrusive suggestion. You may want to put video cameras in a few strategic spots in the home. This will allow you to monitor both grandparents' activity and physical status. If one stays on bed too long, or has a change in physical abilities, you will be able to see what is occuring.
This was a great question. There are so many things you must consider when dealing with a spouse with dementia providing care. Putting systems in place will help promote safety in the home. I hope this was helpful
This video explains the benefits of caregiving coaching for those challenging times
Our Resources section can help you find the information and tools that you need. We have courses, videos, checklists, guidebooks, cheat sheets, how-to guides and more.
You can get started by clicking on the link below. We know that taking care of a loved one is hard work, but with our help you can get the support that you need.
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Diane Carbo
