3-Steps to Conquering Alzheimer's Chaos
Summary
Step 1: Why are they doing it?
Step 2: Find Solutions
Step 3: Try Solutions
Step 2: Find Solutions
Step 3: Try Solutions
Why, Find, & Try™
Step 1: Why are they doing it?
- If you think the reason 'Why are they doing it?' is a single factor, then continue with Step 1.
- If you feel that the causes are quite complex, then skip to Step 2.
Illustration of the Elements to 'Why are they doing it?'
List the Alzheimer's factors that are contributing to 'Why are they doing it?'
- Memory loss
- Thinking skills
- Confusion
- Ineffective communication
- Personality change
- Magnified emotional reactions
- New challenging behaviors
List the 'who' factors attributed to your loved one
- Personal traits
- Motivations
- Core preferences
- Person’s background / life story
- Health history & current health issues
- Who do they automatically give control to? (Ex. authority figures, doctors, nurses, etc.)
List the 'what' factors related to your situation
- What else is going on?
- What has stressed them?
- What was in their line of sight?
- In a particular room?
- Quiet or noisy?
- Hot or cold?
- Something said?
- New person around?
- What was the caregiver’s reaction?
- What variables can be changed in the environment?
List the 'when' factors related to your situation
- When does it happen?
- What happens right before?
- What happens right after?
- Every day?
- Same time?
- Random time?
- When the sun goes down?
- When tired?
- When hungry?
- When feeling sick?
- When does it disappear?
Step 2: Find Solutions
Finding your possible solutions
- Quickly find 3 solutions that you think could solve your issue.
- You may want to ask your loved one’s healthcare providers or social workers for solutions. You could also spend time searching the internet or reading through Alzheimer's books to find your solutions.
- Do It the Easy Way: Use ALZSmart to quickly find the highest-rated sources of information for your issue.
Step 3: Try Solutions
Trying your solutions
- Try your first potential solution.
- If your first choice doesn’t work, don’t be disappointed.
- Try another solution.
- If none of your initial solutions work, then go back to Step 2 and find more tips, techniques, and strategies. Remember, this could simply be a numbers game where you need to keep trying new solutions until you find one that works.
- Find Your Solution Now: Use ALZSmart to quickly find the highest-rated sources of information for your issue.
- If you're still having trouble, perhaps you’re fixing the wrong problem. Go back to Step 1. Examine what you’ve learned so far, then do a deep dive to determine the root cause. Reframe your issue. Go back to Step 2 and search for new solutions.
- Keep trying new solutions until you find one that works.
