How to Help on The Longest Day

Every year, the LCB Senior Living community joins people worldwide to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s on what is known as The Longest Day, or the summer solstice. In the United States, someone develops Alzheimer’s disease every 65 seconds, and more than five million Americans currently live with it. Considering these statistics, it is likely that you know a friend or neighbor caring for an affected family member and, for the 16 million Americans providing unpaid care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, support from friends and family is paramount.

Below are some helpful ways to lend a hand to a family dealing with Alzheimer’s:

Lend an Ear
Sometimes all caregivers need is time to talk, process, and vent. No advice or shared experience is necessary. The simple act of listening and affirming is a tremendous gift you can give them. Offer to take them out for a quick coffee, schedule a phone call, or get out for a short stroll around their neighborhood.

Perform Small Acts of Kindness
Alzheimer’s caregivers face countless decisions daily. Consider performing small random acts of kindness that they don’t need to consider. For example, drop off a home-cooked meal or freshly baked cookies in containers that don’t need returning, bring their trashcans in from the road on garbage day, or do some yard work after completing your own.

Offer Your Time
Caregiver hours can be long and tiresome, and caregiver burnout is a real issue. If you feel comfortable doing so, offer to stay with their loved one for a few hours while your friend or neighbor runs an errand, hits the gym, or takes a nap.

Choose a Weekly Chore
Chat with your friend and let them know you’d like to help by taking a weekly chore or errand off their plate and adding it to your to-do list. Grab items from the store during your weekly shopping trip or drop off and pick up their books from the library. Any small task you do will lessen the burden on them.

Engage Family Members
Engage family members in activities, like a cookout, that you and your family may be doing to give them a break from the routine. If you both have children, take over carpooling duties and invite them along when you take your kids bowling or to the beach.

Be Persistent, Not Insistent
Often Alzheimer’s caregivers are too overwhelmed to respond but don’t take it personally and don’t give up on them. Try a different approach or let them know that your offer to listen or help does not come with an expiration date or any expectations from them. Above all, be respectful, regardless of their quickness to respond.