Alzheimer’s Caregiver support needed:
Hello, we are looking for a caregiver to work with our mom who has Alzheimer’s Disease (related experience is welcome).
This role requires patience, compassion, and a good sense of humor.
Dog-friendly, non-smoking home.
Position start timeframe: July 2025 or after
Availability: Seeking approx. 15-25 hours per week to start, either in the mornings or evenings, or both.
Here is a little about our mom, and some of the different activities we need help with.
A little about Cheri:
- Cheri is a wife, mother and a talented musician who taught piano and violin for many years. She is generally happy and likes to engage in chitchat.
- She loves exploring away from home, especially if the trip ends with ice cream, a milkshake or a light lunch. She does really well with short, simple explorations, a clear plan, and a patient guide who can reassure her regularly. Walks in a park, swimming at the YMCA, and stroll-shopping malls and farmer’s markets.
- She is intelligent and well read, but as Alzheimer’s has progressed, it is very hard for her to remember things minute by minute. She will surprise you with sudden deep observations and a strong vocabulary while struggling to follow your words and sentences, losing her place in the conversation often. She may not remember what she ate or where she went, but she remembers how she felt while doing it. She can still play piano and will do so readily if someone inspires her indirectly so that playing feels like her idea.
- She experiences confabulations (a phenomenon where individuals create false memories unintentionally), occasional hallucinations, and can become confused quickly, especially if tired.
- She loves watching movies (especially scary ones), but loses focus quickly and may watch the same thing over and over again.
- She can be silly and playful and will lose things often by putting things where they don’t belong. The remotes are often found in a sock, that is put in a glasses case, and finally stuffed in a purse, which then gets lost.
- She is often off looking for something to organize or pack and loves being given simple, easy to follow jobs that don’t have too much pressure or time constraint.
- She’s not the very interested in hygiene, and needs encouragement to bathe, brush and dress appropriately (i.e. not with a dry toothbrush in her favorite chair). She can use a restroom alone, but may occasionally need reminding so that she does not wait too long.
- To work with her requires a lot of patience and understanding, and a good sense of humor because Alzheimer’s is one tough road, and sometimes, she is still well aware that she is on it.
Activities and support (AM/PM/or both):
*AM*
- Start her day (getting dressed, bathe if needed, make a light breakfast, coffee, hydration, AM medication, brushing teeth)
- Encouragement to bathe (we’re doing great if she gets 2-3 showers in a week). She just needs help getting the shower on, making sure she has a towel and change of clothes with her
- When taking medication, you must make sure she takes them. She likes to sort the pills by color and while playing with them, often loses them in her lap or puts them back in the box and walks away.
- Accompany her on an activity away from the house (or in the backyard or neighborhood or her exercise bike if mobility is harder that day) and make sure she has a flavored water, a protein snack, sunglasses, hat and cane (the less she carries the better as it will get lost)
- Maybe a stop at a store for a few essentials, or a light meal, ice cream or a milk shake (her favorite)
*PM*
- PM Medications
- PM meal prep
- Help her keep her space clear of obstacles
- Check cupboards and cabinets for misplaced items
- Help her keep her snack cabinet stocked and organized
- Help her keep her fridge clean and organized (throw away expired items)
- Help her put away laundry, following the labels on her drawers and closet
- Winding down her day, set up with a movie or just off to bed