Whether you are a caregiver by trade or you are providing care for a family member in need, caregiving is a challenging job. We're only human and we can't always be expected to know everything, which is the premise for Ask An Expert. When you have a questions about how to engage an elderly person who is bedridden or educational indoor activities to do with special needs children on a rainy day, we have answers.
Recently, we received the following question from an adult child caring for their elderly mother with Alzheimer's:
My biggest challenge in taking care on my mother who has Alzheimer's is keeping her from moving her hands all over the place when I'm changing her diaper. Do you have any suggestions on how to restrain her without causing her any stress?
We took to asking our resident expert Bonnie Hellickson, Gurnee, IL. branch manager. "My best suggestion, when dealing with busy hands, give them something to hold," Bonnie said. "Often the patient is trying to help the caregiver and does not realize they are making things more difficult." Bonnie suggests giving her a diaper to hold and manipulate, as they present a small puzzle for the patient to study. Small stuffed animals with gentle sound, music and colors are great too.
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