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It is important to continue watching for and treating other conditions. Hearing and vision loss, arthritis, thyroid problems, kidney problems, and other conditions are common in older adults and may aggravate symptoms of Alzheimer's. Arthritis may make it harder to move around without help. A hearing or vision problem may make the person more agitated, anxious, or unresponsive. Treating these problems can improve quality of life and ease the burden on the caregiver.

Most people with Alzheimer's disease can be cared for at home by family or friends, at least until the disease becomes severe. Ongoing treatment focuses on making the most of the person's abilities as they change and dealing with new problems as they arise. Caregiving tasks range from maintaining a safe environment and helping the person get dressed every day to finding ways to manage or minimize disruptive behaviors such as wandering and sleep problems. No single strategy works for everyone. Successful care also depends on making sure the caregiver is involved in making decisions about treatment. These decisions will affect both the person with the disease and the caregivers.

If you are a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer's, finding help and support is crucial to the person with Alzheimer's and your own well-being. Taking advantage of respite services or adult day care, seeking help from family and friends, and taking care of yourself are key to providing ongoing care. Seek support as soon as you need it. Contact the Alzheimer's Association at 1-800-272-3900 or visit its Web site (www.alz.org) for help and advice on being a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer's disease.

Treatment when the condition gets worse

As Alzheimer's disease progresses, providing care at home usually becomes more and more challenging. Being a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer's is not easy, no matter how much you know about the disease and how committed you are to taking care of the person. The decision to place a family member in a nursing home or other facility can be a very difficult one, but sometimes nursing home placement is the best choice. For more information, see:

 Should I put my relative with Alzheimer's disease in a nursing home?

What To Think About

Palliative care

As Alzheimer's disease gets worse, you may want to think about palliative care. Palliative care is a kind of care for people who have illnesses that do not go away and often get worse over time. It is different than care to cure a disease, called curative treatment. Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life-not just in the body, but also in the mind and spirit. Some people combine palliative care with curative care.

Palliative care may help with symptoms or side effects from treatment. It may also help your family make future plans around medical care. It could even help the person living with the disease or his or her caregivers to understand Alzheimer's disease or better cope with feelings about living with the disease.