COVID-19 Impact on Alzheimer's patients

Repetition and routine are crucial for patients dealing with dementia and Alzheimers.

Now experts are sharing how to communicate under our nation's temporary normal of social distancing.

Is crucial for patients dealing with dementia and alzheimers.

While we're under a global pandemic, that can be difficult to achieve.

News 18's micah upshaw tells us ways care-takers can navigate this temporary normal.

Micah: more than 100-thousand hoosiers are living with alzheimers.

And that number more than (triples( for the (amount( of people caring for these patients.

Natalie: 342,000 hoosiers are providing unpaid care, usually as a family member or a loved one to someone with the disease.

Micah: underhese uncertain times, many care takers are wondering, how do (we( adjust to this new normal of living life at a distance.

And how do we explain it to our loved ones dealing with a fading memory?

Nancy: it depends on what level they are at.

Micah: purdue university school of nursing professor nancy edwards says it may be easy to compare these times to terms they're familiar with.

Nancy: how i explain it to them is that it's like a flu outbreak because they may not understand, you know, the covid and all that but they do understand the flu.

Micah: when it comes to making sure the person you're caring for is practicing good hygiene -- little reminders can go a long way.

Nancy: you can put up signs to remind them to wash their hands.

Micah: and for those more resistant, creating a task for them might make them more willing to wash.

Nancy: put plastic cups into a sink of water and tell them they're washing dishes and by putting their hands in there and washing the dishes they're actually washing their hands.

Micah: dr. marcy gibbs with iu health suggest creating conversation about covid with an acronyms in mind.

Calmer, which stands for check in, ask open ended questions, lay out the issues, motivate them, expect emotion and record the discussion.

Marcy: if the concerns of your loved one is something completely unrelated to covid, and when you ask have you heard of this and they say no, it may not be necessary to go into a whole explanation on what it is.

Micah: while caretakers are working to be helpful source for those they serve, the indiana alzheimers association is working to be a source for caretakers.

Natalie: we're providing everything from our 24-7 helpline to virtual support groups and virtual education programs. micah: in greater lafayette, micah upshaw.

News 18.

Head to wlfi.com to find more information on how to initiate conversation with your loved- ones dealing with memory loss.