Living with Alzheimer’s is challenging, and if you have a family member with this disease, there are several ways to make life easier for them. Every house has unique furniture, colors, decorations, and other elements that make it a home. These things can affect your mindset and mood, and changing them can make a person with Alzheimer’s life a little bit better and more comfortable.
According to Family Elder Law, over 5.8 million older adults in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s Disease. As such, many people need to find a way to finance changes and adaptions to make their loved ones’ lives easier. In this article, we’ll discuss a few budget-friendly ways to make sure their space is comfortable and lends itself to making living with Alzheimer’s a little bit easier.
Incorporate Colors That Make a Difference
It’s best to avoid using or having energetic and bright colors like red, purple, and orange in the rooms where the family member with Alzheimer’s spends most of their time. These colors can be overly stimulating and you should choose colors that are calming, like blue, brown, and pale yellow. You can still have vibrant hues in rooms, just make sure they’re not a big part of your color scheme.
Change the Lighting
You should opt for more natural lighting, as much as you possibly can. The lighting should match the cycle of natural day and night to ensure that your family member’s circadian rhythm is balanced. This will help improve their sleep patterns, which can also boost their mental and physical health. During the day, have curtains open to allow in natural light.
Use Wall Décor to Improve Mood and Stimulate Memory
People living with Alzheimer’s need visual stimulation, and you can decorate your walls to provide this stimulation. Ideally, you should create a space filled with memories, so mementos from past experiences and photos are awesome decorations to hang on your walls. Having items that will remind your family member of their life experiences is a really good idea.
Update Your Furniture
Furniture is something you can’t do without, but it plays an important role, especially in the life of someone who lives with Alzheimer’s. The most important factors are safety and comfort, so change your furniture to avoid injuries and problems. Depth perception can decrease for Alzheimer’s patients, so square or rectangular tables should be replaced with round ones, for example. Kitchen and dining room chairs should be padded. Try not to rearrange furniture too much because doing so can lead to confusion.
Remove Mirrors
It might be best to avoid having mirrors in areas outside the bathroom. It’s possible that a person with Alzheimer’s can fail to recognize themselves due to impaired memory, and they can become frightened and confused. Fortunately, removing mirrors is a very cheap way to avoid any tricky or confusing situations.
Improve Your Garden
Gardening is a fun hobby for everyone, and up to 42% of folks who spend their time at home gardening feel healthier and happier. So, if you have a family member living with Alzheimer’s, consider getting them outside in the garden as often as possible. Make sure it’s a safe space with no clutter, sharp items, or poisonous or toxic items lying around.
Invest in High-Quality Bedding
Getting a good night’s sleep is often difficult, but a bed that has sheets with fresh scents helps up to 75% of people get a more comfortable rest. Having freshly-washed linen is a good idea to make a person with Alzheimer’s life easier.
Final Ideas
Here are a few other ways to make your home a comfortable space for your family member who has Alzheimer’s Disease:
- Keep a list of important phone numbers somewhere visible
- Tape down area rugs
- Remove other tripping hazards
- Clearly label important items like light switches
- Make a bulletin board with daily routines
- Have a designated area for important items like keys and glasses
Understanding how to finance a comfortable life for your loved one living with Alzheimer’s isn’t always straightforward or easy, but it’s not impossible. The advice shared in this article will guide you in the right direction and help you learn how to come up with affordable ways to create a safe and secure space for anyone that has Alzheimer’s.
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