If you're caring for your spouse at home who has early Alzheimer's disease, consider getting some sort of help so your own health doesn't suffer. Even if your spouse in is good health otherwise, it can be difficult to care for someone with dementia. Plus, there are safety issues to think about.

You might get Alzheimer's care at home for your spouse or move them to an assisted living facility. You might even be able to move to the assisted living facility with your spouse if you're ready to leave your home and all the work that goes with it. Here are some types of Alzheimer's care your spouse may receive.

1. Provide Supervision Day Or Night

Your spouse may like to wander around. As long as they stay in the house, it gives them exercise and a way to walk off anxiety. However, if your spouse gets outside or gets into things in the house that they shouldn't, they might get hurt. An Alzheimer's care professional can give you tips for securing your home so your spouse is safe.

You can't stay awake day and night to supervise your spouse. People with Alzheimer's often get more active and more confused after sundown. You may need someone to come to your home to watch your spouse so you can rest and so your spouse stays safe.

If your spouse moves to an assisted living facility, they'll have supervision 24 hours a day, so you won't have to worry about them getting hurt while you're sleeping.

2. Establish And Follow A Routine

A routine might help your spouse cope with their condition. They know what's coming and what they need to do when a routine is established they follow daily. This might include having meals at a set time, going for walks on a schedule, and playing games at a set time every day.

By keeping your spouse active, they may have less anxiety and they may even have better memory for daily tasks than if they have a chaotic schedule. An assisted living facility that provides memory care may set up and keep a routine for your spouse. This would be difficult for you to do alone at home since you may be tired or not feel well enough to keep up with the routine.

3. Monitor Medications And Nutrition

One of the important jobs of Alzheimer's care is to keep your spouse as healthy as possible since a decline in health could also cause a worsening of their dementia. Taking medications on time is important and it's also important to monitor someone with Alzheimer's since they may forget if they've taken medications and take too much or too little.

Monitoring nutrition is important too since your spouse may forget to eat or lose their appetite. Your spouse needs a variety of foods for proper nutrition and enough calories to keep them from losing weight. An assisted living facility can provide meals and help your spouse eat if necessary to ensure they don't get weak or hungry.

For more information on Alzheimer's care, contact a professional near you.