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Alzheimer's Disease

Questions:

My father has Alzheimer’s and roams at night. Is there something I can have him do to keep him busy at night?
How can I obtain information on a tracking device used to locate impaired individuals who may not be able to find their way home?
My loved one has had Alzheimer’s for over 10 years and is becoming difficult to feed. Other than three cans of Ensure, do you have any suggestions as to what I can feed him?

Questions and Answers:

My father has Alzheimer's and lives with my husband and me. Is there something I can have my father do to keep him busy at night when he doesn't want to sleep but wants to roam?
People with diseases such as Alzheimer's often experience behavior problems in the late afternoon and evening. They may become more demanding, upset, suspicious or disoriented; they may see, hear, or believe things that aren't real, or they may wander during the night while others in the house are sleeping. This may cause them to continually doze off during the day.

While experts are not certain how or why these behaviors occur, they often attribute the problem of late afternoon confusion, which is sometimes called "sundowning" or "sundown syndrome" to factors such as end-of-day exhaustion (mental and physical); an upset in the "internal body clock," causing a biological mix-up between day and night; reduced lighting and increased shadows; disorientation due to the inability to separate dreams from reality when sleeping; and less need for sleep, which is common among older adults.

Some suggestions that may help to reduce your father's evening agitation and nighttime sleeplessness include: planning more active days, discouraging afternoon napping, monitoring diet to restrict caffeine and sugar to the morning hours, seeking medical advice about physical conditions that may be making it difficult to sleep, limiting noise in the evenings that may disturb sleeping, keeping rooms adequately lit in evening to reduce confusion, and changing sleeping arrangements.

Visit SeniorNavigator.org to read more or to find a list of local services available to help seniors, their families and caregivers, including your local Alzheimer's Association chapter.
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I would like to obtain a tracking device used to locate impaired individuals who may not be able to find their way home. Could you provide me with some information to help me get started?
There are several options available to you. First, the Alzheimer's Association offers the Safe Return program, which consists of a national database of information about individuals and identification bracelets. Local chapters can provide you with more specific information about the program in your area.

Additionally, there are private companies that offer products that can track a person's location. One example, the Digital Angel System, works in conjunction with the Global Positioning System (GPS) and a wireless call network. This type of device will notify the subscriber upon their request of the location of the ID bracelet.

Several local sheriff or police departments in Virginia administer programs that help locate an individual who may have wandered. One example is Project Lifesaver, which places personalized radio transmitters on identified persons with Alzheimer's and Related Mental Dysfunction Disorders to assist caregivers and local emergency agencies in locating those who cannot help themselves.

To find a listing of Alzheimer's Association chapters, local police departments, and other emergency response service providers in Virginia, visit www.seniornavigator.org. Type in the topic "Emergency Response" and your ZIP code. To get answers to your own caregiving concerns, visit this site and click on "Ask an Expert."
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My husband is 65 years old and has suffered from Alzheimer's for eleven years. Recently, I have had a very difficult time feeding him because he is beginning to not open his mouth. Other than three cans of Ensure, do you have any suggestions as to what I can feed him?
Problems with eating are commonly associated with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. These reactions may be due to discomfort in the mouth and a visit to your husband's physician may be helpful.

Keep the atmosphere as calm and quiet as possible during mealtimes and try to stick with a regular mealtime. Since your husband is still able to handle drinking the Ensure, you might experiment with liquid soups that can be served the same way as the Ensure. You could also puree regular food to serve him instead of or in addition to the Ensure supplements.

You may try asking your husband to say "Ahhhhhh", similar to what occurs at the doctor's office. A straw may also assist both of you in trying to feed him. Try not to force him to eat; doing so may result in injury to your husband's mouth. Additionally, you may consider placing some food, such as a bite of a sandwich, in his hand to see if that distracts him enough so that he opens his mouth "without trying so hard."

For more information, visit www.seniornavigator.org and type in the topic Alzheimer's and your ZIP code. Additionally, to locate support groups for caregivers, visit the same website, type in the topic Support Groups and your ZIP code.
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