Courtesy of Dr. Marion

By Marion Somers, PhD

Once a senior is in the early stages of dementia, including Alzheimer's Disease, it can often be a struggle to find ways to help him or her stay aware and alert. I do not have to tell you that this is a very difficult spot, but there are ways to help the situation. When someone starts to lose a sense of reality, they are desperate to get reoriented. They want to know what day it is, what season it is, what the weather is like outside, what holiday is coming up, and what's going on in the world. Reality orientation is a path to helping your senior stay in the here and now.

How can this be accomplished? Buy your elder a large clock and place it in a prominent position in his or her home to help with time orientation. The same can be done with an oversized calendar. Then mark off each day with a big X so your senior stays in touch with the passing of time. I often go further and create a large bulletin board that monitors the day, the season, the weather, the next holiday, and loved ones' birthdays.

If your elder used to get the newspaper every day, bring in a large print paper so he or she can see the date and the news, and can try to participate in the world around them. This should lower their daily confusion level while heightening their sense of independence.

It is also important to tell your senior what is happening and where she is going. I am talking mostly about doctors' appointments and social outings. It is much more empowering to keep them involved in the plans or they could become belligerent and more confused. These considerations can help your elder connect the dots and fill in the holes in their new daily reality. It is one of the most important tasks you can accomplish as a caregiver.

A version of this blog appeared on Dr. Marion's Web Site.