Having one parent diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease is difficult for family caregivers but when both of your parents have Alzheimer’s, the burden more than doubles. The help you were receiving from one parent is replaced by the challenges of caring for both.

How to Help Two Parents With Alzheimer’s

Here is some advice on how to manage the often-overwhelming task of helping two parents with Alzheimer’s:

1. Consider the options.

When it is no longer safe for one or both of your parents to live in their home, the time may come to consider such options as assisted living or memory care. You and your parents may have to grapple with some tough decisions. For instance, does the parent in the milder stages want to remain at home while the other parent lives in a memory care community? Or would they rather move into assisted living or memory care together?

One possibility might be for one parent to move into assisted living while the other moves into memory care in the same community. Though they would have separate rooms, they would be able to see each other during the day while receiving the specialized care they need — and an added bonus is that it would be more convenient for you to visit.

2. Don’t neglect yourself.

When focusing on two parents diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, you may find yourself with little time for self-care. However, it’s important not to neglect your needs. Develop a support network to alleviate caregiving-related responsibilities. Among those who can help are clergy, family members, friends, healthcare teams and resources in your community like the local Area Agency on Aging.

If necessary, see a counselor or mental health professional to help alleviate any stress or emotional trauma you may be experiencing or join a caregiver’s support group. Also, make sure you stay up-to-date on medical exams to maintain your physical well being. Keeping yourself healthy is one of the most important things you can do to fulfill your desire to help your parents.

3. Know the stages.

Familiarize yourself with the different stages of Alzheimer’s disease, from mild to severe, so that you can tailor your assistance for each of your parents accordingly. For instance, Dad may be in the moderate to severe stage, whereas Mom may be just beginning to experience mild cognitive decline. While your dad will obviously need more attention, you should be careful not to overlook your mom’s needs as she begins to experience the effects of cognitive decline.

It’s possible that you previously counted on your mother to keep your parents’ household functioning, but now that she’s been diagnosed, she may no longer be able to do so. It’s important for you to check in with your parents more frequently and be attuned to even small changes that may alert you to an increased need for help. Perhaps it’s something as seemingly innocuous as the house being less tidy or mail piling up in the foyer, but if this is new behavior, you may wish to step in to offer more direct help.

As the needs progress for both parents with Alzheimer’s, you may find it appropriate to advocate for enlisting a dementia care provider to help out a few days each week with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, grooming and dressing.

About the Author

Diane Franklin is a freelance writer and editor who writes regularly about senior living and healthcare. She has also written hundreds of articles for business and trade publications, including leading magazines for the credit union and retail paint industries.

Are you caring for two parents with Alzheimer’s? What are some of the challenges you face and the lessons you’ve learned?

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Written by Kacie Thomas

Helen Borley of Modesto loved sewing. She used to let her children pick out the patterns and fabric for the clothes she made. Her daughter, Julie Nelson, is honoring Helen’s creativity with “Cars, Crafts and Community for the Cure,” a fundraiser for The Longest Day.

Developing a passionfor sewing and creativity

Julie Nelson credits her mother for inspiring her family to fight the Alzheimer’s disease through the arts. When Julie and her five siblings were growing up, Helen was a stay-at-home mom. “She was just like June Cleaver,” Julie shared.

Julie never had store-bought clothes. No one ever knewthat the family didn’t have much money, because Helen made her dresses.

Helen took Julie and her siblings to the local craftstore to get patterns and fabric. “I would go to school and come home to abrand new, homemade dress,” Julie said. “It was amazing.”

Helen continued the tradition into the next generation.She would make dresses and Easter bunnies for all 26 of her grandchildren. Juliedeveloped a passion for costume-making and creativity because of her mother.

The early signs

While Helen passed away within 18 months of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011, Julie noticed that things weren’t quite right years before Helen’s diagnosis.

In 2005, Julie, her sister and Helen traveled to Europe.“I have the best memories of her in 2005,” Julie said.

While physically, Helen seemed fine, Julie noticed acouple of personality changes. “She got really mean to people,” Julie said. “Momsaid, ‘Better off to be a mean old lady than a nice one,’ and that was neverher.”

Julie initially shrugged this off as Helen’s feelings toward being widowed. Later she realized that it was an early sign that something was wrong.

In 2007, Helen had a medical episode. When Julie tookHelen to the doctor, they asked what medicines she was taking.

Helen didn’t know her medications, even though she hadbeen taking them on her own. “That was my big wake-up call,” shared Julie. “Itmade me realize we need to manage her medicines better.”

The onset ofAlzheimer’s

In 2007, Julie went over to her mother’s rental homebecause there was an issue with the air conditioner. While Helen knewelectrical circuits very well, she couldn’t recall the words “air conditioner.”

She pointed to it and called it a “silver box.” Justa few minutes later, she couldn’t remember the word, “orange.” Julie scheduledan appointment for Helen to see her doctor. He diagnosed Helen with generalizedmemory loss.

Separation and struggle

Julie was the only local daughter and had to tell her mother that she couldn’t drive anymore. “Having to do that was tough,” shared Julie. “She was still verbal and living independently but it wasn’t safe for her to drive.”

Shortly after, the family decided to move Helen to a memory care center. “Her favorite thing to do was watch The Hallmark Channel,” Julie said. “She wanted to sit together and hold hands.”

Helen’s final days

Helen had been at the memory care center for about a year.To help try and keep memories alive, Julie and her family put up pictures withtheir names.

“I didn’t wait for her to guess,” Julie said. “I alwaysjust came in, said my name and told her I love her.”

Julie has a suggestion for other caregivers. “Always talk to them even if they’re not going to respond,” encouraged Julie. “They hear you.”

During Helen’s final days, she was hearing impaired.Right before Helen passed away, Julie and all but one of her siblings hadchecked in.

Julie asked her mom if she needed to hear from Tom,Julie’s brother. “Her eyes lit up,” Julie said. “I put the phone up to her earas she was actively dying, and he told her it was ok to go.”

Taking actionthrough the arts

Julie’s children never forgot about how Helen’screativity touched their lives. Julie’s daughter, Katrina Nelson, has made ither mission over the last three years to research how brain activity in olderadults could be impacted by art.

The first year Julie participated in The Longest Day, sheinvited friends and artists from the community to a barbecue and swim party ather home. Katrina live-streamed an art lesson to everyone in her living room.“She was part of it even though she was hundreds of miles away,” Julie said.

A family affair

In 2018, Julie and Katrina were busy planning Katrina’s wedding. Julie’s son, Ryan Nelson, created and ran the family’s event for The Longest Day.

Ryan got his coworkers from CarMax to help him host a car show. The CarMax Cares program helps their employees support nonprofits that are important to them.

This year is the Nelson family’s third year participatingin The Longest Day to honor Helen. They are combining Julie and Katrina’s loveof arts and crafts with Ryan’s interest in cars. “Cars, Crafts and Communityfor the Cure” will combine a car show with a craft fair and food vendors.

They are holding the family-friendly event on Saturday, June 22. It will be at Dutch Hollow Farms in Modesto, popular for their spring tulips and fall pumpkin patch. They have already raised over $900 towards their $10,000 goal.

The Nelson family invitesyou to attend their fundraiser. Support Julie’s fundraiser or start your own team for The LongestDay.

As researchers press for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, many are focusing on early detection and prevention. Early detection of Alzheimer’s can not only mitigate symptoms but potentially slow the progression of the disease as well. It can also help families prepare for a future with Alzheimer’s, outlining future caregiving plans.

One new study utilizes a blood test to detect evidence of protein changes and damage and can predict Alzheimer’s almost seven years before symptoms occur. Read more about this study.

A Blood Test to Predict Alzheimer’s

A team of researchers from Washington University in St. Louis and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Tübingen found that a simple blood test that evaluates changes in neurofilament light chain protein levels can detect early signs of brain changes from Alzheimer’s before symptoms occur. The study was published in the January 21, 2019 edition of Nature Medicine.

Participants in the study were chosen from the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network which is comprised of people with a genetic mutation that guarantees they will develop Alzheimer’s early. The study also included family members who do not have the mutation.

To conduct the study, researchers took blood samples from 243 people who had the mutation and 162 who did not. Blood samples were taken once every three years for six to nine years. They examined levels of a protein known as “neurofilament light chain” which gives structural support to brain cells.

High levels of this blood protein are known to indicate brain changes or damage, showing in the blood of people with Alzheimer’s.

Every participant had some level of neurofilament light chain protein present in his or her blood that increased over time.

However, people who were genetically at risk for Alzheimer’s accumulated more of the protein at a faster rate than those without the gene.

Using Blood Tests in a Clinical Setting

Brian Gorden, Ph.D., an author of the study and assistant professor of radiology at Washington University’s Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology says that “This is something that would be easy to incorporate into a screening test in a neurology clinic. We validated it in people with Alzheimer’s because we know their brains undergo lots of neurodegeneration, but this marker isn’t specific for Alzheimer’s. High levels could be a sign of many different neurological diseases and injuries.”

Researchers hope future studies will reveal how much neurofilament light chain present indicates Alzheimer’s. While a commercial test similar to the one used by study authors is available, it has not been approved by the FDA to diagnose or predict an individual’s risk of Alzheimer’s.

“I could see this being used in the clinic in a few years to identify signs of brain damage in individual patients,” Dr. Gordon states. “We’re not at the point we can tell people, ‘In five years you’ll have dementia.’ We are all working towards that.”

Do you think a simple blood test will be able to predict Alzheimer’s in the next decade? Why or why not? We’d like to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Related Articles:

• Better Alzheimer’s Prevention With Early Detection
• Blood Test Could Help Identify Alzheimer’s
• Moving Closer to a Blood Test for Dementia

Some common medications, both over-the-counter and prescription, have a certain property that can contribute to memory loss and mild cognitive impairment. Learn more about these drugs, how they may accelerate cognitive decline, and what to do if you or a loved one is taking one of these drugs and experiencing memory loss.

Memory Loss Caused by Commonly Used Medications

Many over-the-counter drugs and prescription drugs have been linked to memory loss and mild cognitive impairment. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a common condition associated with aging that can also be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease with the main symptom being short term memory loss.

Drugs that cause MCI and related memory loss have a property known as “anti-cholinergic,” that means the drugs slow the neurotransmitter acetylcholine which plays a large role in memory retention. However, very few drugs are labeled or classified as anti-cholinergic drugs.

Other than the officially classified anti-cholinergic drugs, there are 17 additional drugs that have anti-cholinergic properties. Many doctors are unaware of the anti-cholinergic properties in commonly prescribed medications, which can be problematic for people at risk for MCI.

Additionally, several studies have shown a higher rate of cognitive decline for people who regularly use anti-cholinergic drugs. In one specific study, a research team observed nuns and clergy from the Rush Religious Orders for an eight year period and concluded that those who used medications with anti-cholinergic properties experienced a faster rate of cognitive decline.

Dr. Jack Tsao, a researcher on the study and an associate professor of neurology at Uniformed Services University, addressed the American Academy of Neurology stating:

“…A lot of medicines that are not advertised as anti-cholinergic in nature actually have anti-cholinergic properties.”

Physicians caution that people who have been prescribed medications that may have memory loss properties should not stop taking their prescriptions until they see their doctor and can discuss their concerns with someone who knows their medical history and needs.

Common Medications with Anti-Cholinergic Properties

It is important that caregivers and family members be aware of all ingredients in medications that senior loved ones may be taking, to take note of their side effects and any potential interaction issues. Here is a list of some of the commonly used medications that contain anti-cholinergic properties, which may be contributing to memory loss: