Getting diagnosed with the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease can be really stressful. But once you are diagnosed it is better to accept it and to try and live with the disease. Instead of thinking about the disease and not doing anything at all, move forward. Meet your doctor and ask him or her about the way forward. 

Your doctor will prescribe you medicines and also advise you about how to go about your daily routine. The most common medicine that is prescribed to patients with Alzheimer’s disease is memantine. Do not think that you can handle the situation with medicines, if your doctor prescribed the medicine then go and buy memantine. Consume it as directed by your doctor. Do not get frustrated; instead try the following suggestions to manage your life better:

  • Memory problems can be difficult for those with Alzheimer’s disease, you may find remembering things very tricky, so write down information in a notebook, include phone numbers of important people to contact, your home and office address, the way to your home etc.
  • Stick notes in your house which will help you remember things.
  • Label things in your kitchen, in your bedroom, in your closet, the drawers, everything. This will help you find things and jog your memory.
  • Set up reminders in your phone or laptop. Important reminders like meal times should be included in your phone so that you do not miss meals. 
  • Keep photographs of important people and write down their names so that you do not have trouble remembering them.
  • Use an answering machine to take down messages. Also write down important numbers and names in a book near your telephone.
  • Nowadays you have many apps on Google play and the App store that can help people with memory problems. You can set up a map app that will talk you through the directions to your home. You can set up reminders using apps. 
  • Do not try to answer anyone immediately, take your time to answer them. Think and respond slowly.
  • Many people want to drive their vehicles even after being diagnosed with memory problems. Ideally you should not drive if you have Alzheimer’s disease, but if it is early onset you can ask your doctor and maybe drive for some time because at some point you will not be allowed to drive.
  • If you have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, all is not lost. You can try to slow the memory deterioration process, not just with the medicines the doctor prescribed but by keeping your brain active. There are many games that you can play that will keep your brain active such as Sudoku. Yes, Sudoku is a game that will keep your memory focused, by keeping your brain active you can slow the deterioration. You can try crossword puzzles too as they are known to help a person jog his memory and keep the brain active. There are many apps that help a person such as memory games etc.

To be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease is devastating, but all is not lost, we can slow the process.