Tips for people who are caring for someone who has ADC
For HIV-positive people with ADC, learning to cope with the symptoms can be very frustrating. It can also be frustrating for friends and relatives who want to help but don't quite know how. After all, none of us were born knowing how to care for someone with dementia.
Here are some basic tips for people caring for someone with dementia. For more information, we strongly encourage caregivers to seek out the expert advice of an occupational therapist.
Help those with ADC to help themselves. People with ADC are not infants and do not need to be waited on hand and foot. In the previous section of this lesson, we discuss ways in which people with ADC can help themselves. Start by helping to put these basic tips into action.
Patience will be your finest virtue. You must give people with ADC space to keep them doing as much as they can. Don't take over! Let them make mistakes or fail, but don't let them feel like a failure. Help them not to give up.
Don't let them become overwhelmed. Watch carefully for signs that they are blanking out or becoming anxious about certain functions.
Household chores. People with ADC don't necessarily need help doing chores around the house. What they may need is help remembering chores that are being overlooked. Start by putting signs around the house or weekly checklists on the fridge.
Make bathrooms and kitchens safer. Kitchens and bathrooms are often cluttered places. If someone with ADC has problems with vision or coordination, navigating these areas can be scary and frustrating. Put things into drawers and cupboards and label their contents. It's also best to purchase groceries that come in plastic containers, not glass. Transfer products that come in glass containers into plastic containers to help avoid breakages. Toilets and showers can be easily fitted with grab bars, seats, and handheld shower sprays.
Improve communication skills. This is very important. If someone with ADC is watching TV and you want to ask a question or have a conversation, get his or her attention first or mute the TV. It can be difficult to focus on too many things at once. Also, don't rush into something because they can't think or speak fast enough to let you know whether they agree. Try to give time to respond – to let you know whether they really want to do it.
Search for news stories about this topic