If you care for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease and just went through Hurricane Irene, you know that a crisis can make caregiving even more challenging. People with Alzheimer’s can’t always express how they feel, but they can be very attuned to their environment, the people around them, and how they’re feeling. Coping with a disaster can be stressful, people with Alzheimer’s may feel that stress and it can affect their behavior. Here are some tips on coping after a crisis from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America:

• Ensure that your loved one is drinking enough water and getting good nutrition.
• Try to keep to a regular schedule for bathing, dressing and eating.
• Monitor medications to ensure they’re being taken consistently.
• Watch for signs of pain – your loved one may be experiencing discomfort that they can’t express.
• Try to avoid watching stories in the media about the crisis when your loved one is present.
• If your loved one wants to talk about it, acknowledge the disaster, validate their thoughts and feelings, and redirect to a new topic.

If you or someone you know is caring for someone with dementia and needs assistance, VNSNY has many programs available to help – check out our website at http://www.vnsny.org/