20 Tips to Help Yourself if you Have Alcoholism & Alzheimer’s

If you have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and you are also an alcoholic, there are some important things that you can do to help yourself. The idea is to give you resources and tips to help increase your comfort, help you cope, and allow you to remain active – and be in as much control of your memory as humanly possible. Here are 20 tips to get you started.

1. You Are Not Alone – Whenever a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease – or any other serious disease, including alcoholism – the first thought is, “Why me?” It seems as if you are being targeted unfairly, since you may be the only one in your family or circle of friends to be so afflicted. The fact of the matter is that there are millions of Americans who suffer from either Alzheimer’s disease or alcohol-related mental decline. There is also a great deal of research currently underway to find the causes, prevention and cures for Alzheimer’s disease, links with alcoholism, as well as coping strategies for living longer and more productive lives.

2. Deal with Some Changes Sooner – One point that must be stressed is that while you may have just learned that you have Alzheimer’s disease, and you may have been an alcoholic for some time, you will need to deal with some of the expected changes sooner rather than later. This only means that you will need to be proactive in safeguarding your health and optimizing your mental faculties in order to prolong your meaningful productivity.

3. Care for your Physical Health – Undoubtedly, years of alcohol abuse have already taken their toll on your physical health. You may not have attended to getting sufficient nutrition or physical exercise in recent years. But there’s no time like the present to start. In fact, paying attention to what you eat and being more active physically can benefit you no matter when you start. Taking care of your physical health means that you should get regular physical checkups, eat well-balanced meals, exercise daily, take any required medications as directed by your doctor, get plenty of rest, and avoid alcohol completely.

4. Learn How to Cope with Feelings – Alzheimer’s disease produces wildly fluctuating emotions in many people. Sometimes these feelings can seem overwhelming, causing the individual severe distress – physically as well as emotionally. Alcoholism acts as a further contributor to wide mood swings, so it’s important to do everything you can to stay clean and sober while you learn to cope with your Alzheimer’s disease. After an early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, many patients experience a range of emotions. You may at first deny that you have the disease, and then be afraid of losing the people closest to you. You may feel loneliness, believing that no one understands what is going on with you or frustrated that you can’t seem to make others understand you. A sense of loss over the way you’re used to seeing yourself, and anger and depression are also common emotions those newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s experience.

5. Write in a Journal – Many Alzheimer’s sufferers who are also alcoholics find it beneficial to write daily journals. This helps you capture moments as they occur and the journal is there for you to review at a later date. It serves as a jog to your memory, and preserves important memories so that you can relive them – even if you can’t remember them at some point in the future.

6. Join an Alzheimer’s Support Group – If you have Alzheimer’s disease, it’s important that you interact with others who are in the same situation. Only someone else with Alzheimer’s disease can know what you’re going through, and it’s vitally important to share conversation, feelings, stories, camaraderie and strategies with them. The support of others who have experienced success in dealing with Alzheimer’s can be extremely beneficial to you as you adapt their techniques to fit your lifestyle. The Alzheimer’s Association has a convenient locator (http://www.alz.org/apps/findus.asp) to help you find a support group in your community.

7. Attend Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings – Alcoholics who also have Alzheimer’s disease need to continue regular attendance at 12-step meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. This will help you maintain your sobriety as you learn how to deal with the complexities and difficulties of Alzheimer’s disease.

8. Talk with Your Doctor – After the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, talk with your doctor about appropriate treatment – perhaps for Alzheimer’s and alcoholism, or co-occurring disorders. If you have already completed treatment for alcohol addiction or substance abuse, mention this to your doctor. It’s important that your physician know your history – if he or she doesn’t already – so that any referral to treatment can best accommodate your needs.

9. See a Counselor – You don’t need to struggle to make sense of your Alzheimer’s and alcoholism on your own. There are counselors who specialize in treating patients who have both conditions simultaneously. Just being able to talk with an objective, certified professional will give you peace of mind, since the counselor will be able to provide you with recommendations and help you navigate your way through this difficult time.

10. Share Feelings with Your Family – Of course, your family needs to be brought into the loop. After all, these are the people closest to you, the ones who love you dearly and want to help and support you as much as possible. Many times, people who are newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (and who are also alcoholics) withdraw from family, perhaps in an attempt to spare them emotional pain, or perhaps as a self-defense mechanism. In either case, isolation will only exacerbate the problems associated with Alzheimer’s disease and alcoholism.

11. Do Activities as Long as You Can – Make it a point to be actively engaged in pursuing your hobbies, recreational pursuits, entertainment choices and other activities as long as you can safely do so. Being active and engaged helps enrich your life and give it meaning.

12. Work with Your Partner – The best person to assist you as you deal with Alzheimer’s disease and alcoholism is your partner or spouse. This is the person who’s with you day in and day out and who knows you best. Naturally, you will want to live at home as long as you can, and your partner may need to help manage the household and even assume some of your care at some point. The increased responsibility may be draining on your partner, so you can help by talking with your partner about how he or she can assist you and encouraging him or her to attend a support group for caregivers. You may also wish to see a professional to talk about ways to maintain sexual intimacy with your partner. Modify your activities to take into account your changing abilities.

13. Reassure Your Children – Don’t forget your children when you are learning how to cope with your Alzheimer’s disease and alcoholism. Often, children are bewildered upon learning of a parent’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s. They may fear being abandoned, or that you won’t love them or recognize them or be able to take care of them in the years ahead. Younger children may be afraid they’ll get the disease, or that they somehow contributed toward your getting it. Teens may resent having to do more work around the home or be embarrassed about your Alzheimer’s and alcoholism. Older teens may not want to leave for college. You can help reassure them by being straightforward about the disease, and letting them know that you may occasionally forget things, like their names, or that you may sometimes act in ways that embarrass them. Ask for their understanding and encourage them to attend support group meetings and sit in on counseling sessions. Record your thoughts, feelings and important emotions so that you can be “there” with them for milestone dates such as anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, weddings, and the like – even though your mental faculties at that point are no longer up-to-par.

14. Plan for How to Do Difficult Activities – As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, you will find that things you used to do with ease may become increasingly more difficult. Don’t give into the belief that a drink will make things easier. It won’t. In fact, it will just compound the problem. Instead, resolve to do more difficult tasks earlier in the day or at times when you are at your best. Allow yourself time to get through the task and don’t reprimand yourself or permit others to rush you. Be sure to take a break during the task if it feels too difficult. Don’t strain or push yourself in an unrealistic deadline. Just take it slowly. If things become too difficult, rather than react in anger and frustration, ask others – like your spouse or partner – to help you.

15. Take Your Time Communicating – Alzheimer’s disease may gradually rob you of the ease of communicating with others as you once did. Alcohol aggravates memory loss, or compounds it in someone with Alzheimer’s disease. If you find yourself having difficulty remembering words, names, or being able to speak coherent sentences, take your time. Don’t rush your words. If you don’t understand what others are saying to you, ask them to speak more slowly, repeat the sentence, or write down words or phrases you don’t understand. Often, finding a quieter place to carry on a conversation will help you get rid of distracting noise that interferes with your ability to communicate.

16. Be Mindful of Driving Limitations – Getting around is important for your independence, but you need to be mindful of limitations as your Alzheimer’s disease progresses. At some point, you may no longer be able to drive or drive alone. It’s important to discuss the eventualities of how and when you’ll make the decision to stop driving with your doctor and your family. In the meantime, explore the other options available to you, including public transportation, community services, or relying on family and friends.

17. Learn How to Deal with Memory Changes – Losing your ability to remember things is a frightening part of Alzheimer’s disease, which may be compounded by alcoholism. To help deal with it, utilize some of these helpful tips. Make out a schedule of important things you need to do each day, including when to eat, exercise, take medication and go to bed. Arrange for a friend or family member to call and remind you about your meal times, medications and appointments. Post important phone numbers in large print and keep by your telephone. Label and store your medications in a pill organizer. Mark off days on the calendar with a colored felt tip marker to help you keep track of time. Ask for someone to help you label closets and drawers with either words or pictures of the contents so that it is easier for you to find things when you need them. Label photographs of the people you see the most with their names – to help you remember them. Give yourself handy reminders with post-it notes you affix to places where you’ll be sure to see them to lock the doors and turn off lights and appliances.

18. Tips for Living Alone – Many people with Alzheimer’s disease and alcoholism don’t have the benefit of another person living with them. If you are single, divorced or widowed, you still want to keep your independence as long as you can. Make arrangements for someone from outside the home to help you with housekeeping, meals, transportation and other daily chores or activities. Have your retirement and Social Security benefit checks directly deposited into your banking accounts. If you need help paying bills, arrange for someone to help you with this task, or give legal authority to another to do so on your behalf. Give a set of your keys to a neighbor. Inquire about the availability of home-delivered meals in your area. Have someone regularly check your home’s smoke alarm and any security system. Make arrangements for family, friends, or community workers to call or check in with you daily. Be sure to write down questions or things you need to discuss with them so you don’t forget, or things for them to check out while they’re with you, including food restocking, mail, electrical appliances or needed repairs around the house.

19. Participate in a Clinical Trial – Cutting-edge research is underway, searching for better ways to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Consider participating in one of the more than 100 clinical trials currently recruiting participants. Experts say that every study matters and you will receive a high standard of care. You can make a difference and there is every reason to have optimism in the outcome of clinical trials. See the Alzheimer’s Association for more information on clinical trials (http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_clinical_studies.asp#findstudy).

20. Take Safety Measures – Do all you can to ensure your home is as safe as possible. This may include installation of grab bars in the bathroom to ward off falls, using appliances with automatic shut-off features, and enrolling in MedicAlert + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return (http://www.alz.org/safetycenter/we_can_help_safety_medicalert_safereturn.asp). Protect yourself from solicitors and potential fraud by putting your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry (https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx) and take steps to avoid junk mail by getting your name off mailing lists.

Living with Alzheimer’s disease and alcoholism is a tall order – for anyone. But with the help and support of caring individuals, and a good deal of self-preparedness and being proactive in your self-help program, you can enjoy many more years of productive and meaningful living.