Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease which means that your loved one may be able to do some activities today that she will not be able to perform on her own in the future. While planning for the future is extremely important, especially with Alzheimer’s disease, it’s also equally important to celebrate and enjoy what your loved one can do today. Utilizing Alzheimer’s Care can help your senior loved one continue to be active in a safe manner.
The Benefits of Walking
Walking has countless health benefits and can even help slow down the progression of the disease. It can help keep blood flowing which can help improve thinking and memory, and also helps to support cardiovascular health. It can strengthen muscles and bones, allowing your loved one to stay active. If your loved one has always loved walking, encourage her to keep up this practice.
Safety Tips for Walking
In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, your loved one can still live independently and might want to continue to do things on her own like she always has. That can include going for her morning walk each day. But as a caregiver, you might feel anxious about her walking alone, even if it’s in the same places she has walked for decades. You may be scared of her getting injured or becoming confused and losing her way.
You can take steps to keep your loved one safe on her daily walks.
- If you share a phone plan, consider having her location on at all times and have that location shared with you. That means that at any time, you can look at your phone and see where she’s at so long as she brings her phone with her.
- Have her go on familiar routes that are well-marked. This is not the time to wander off the beaten path. Recommend that she stay on paths that are familiar with plenty of landmarks along the way. This way, if she becomes confused at some point, she may be able to reorient herself by recognizing local buildings or other markers.
- Request that she tells you or someone else when she is going for her walk and when she returns. A simple text will do but make sure it becomes a habit so if a return text isn’t sent, you know when to take action.
- Don’t walk in the dark or inclement weather. Both of these can become disorienting for your loved one.
One of the best ways to stay safe while walking is for your loved one to have someone with her. Family and friends can be great choices and a wonderful way for her to stay connected with people who have always been important to her. Another walking companion can be an Alzheimer’s care provider. This trained provider can come to the home regularly and help with any tasks around the home that need to be completed as well as join your loved one for a walk around the neighborhood or to the local farmer’s market.
Alzheimer’s care providers assist in the day-to-day living needs of your loved one and can help her stay independent as the disease progresses. They are a great set of caring eyes to have on your loved one in the early stages of the disease and provide feedback about care needs that may need to be updated or altered as the disease progresses.