by Rhonda Day

Created on: September 24, 2007   Last Updated: March 24, 2008

Caregiving. It seems like an endless, thankless, frustrating job. But it can also be rewarding, fulfilling, and satisfying! When you find yourself in a caregiver role, there are some simple things you can do to make it easier on yourself and the person you care for.

1. Always approach the person with humor and remember that caregiving requires creativity and thoughtfulness on your part. Let the person know that they are loved and cared for unconditionally in most cases, particularly with Alzheimer's patients, they are unable to give back anything, including thankfulness.

2. Try to find the good things in the person and the situation. It's hard to always do this with the day to day work associated with caregiving, but it is more likely that it will happen when you practice positive thinking and positive self-talk.
3. Allow the person to do things that make him/her feel good even if they seem useless and mundane to you. For example, if a person enjoys continually straightening the sheets around them, then let them do this. If they enjoy rubbing the pages of a book without reading them, that's fine. Familiarity often results in contentment for a person who is in this situation.
4. Try to determine the best times for the person to participate in conversation or activities. Some patients are better in the morning while others are more alert in the afternoon. Use these times wisely and be patient with the person as they participate in activities. Don't rush the patient or yourself during this time use it for relaxation and strengthening your relationships, or just sitting quietly together.
5. Determine when the person is LESS likely to be cooperative and alert. Practice extra patience during these times and don't plan activities or things that require the person to engage or participate more than necessary.
6. Keep the house or place where they are staying light and airy. Open blinds or curtain to allow sunshine to come in, though not directly on the person which may annoy and agitate them. As evening approaches, start turning on lamps and keep lighting constant to help avoid "sundown syndrome" which can create anxiety in an older person.
7. Hang soothing watercolor pictures or family photos where they can easily be seen. Familiar surroundings are important to the person and will help them to feel more comfortable and restful. If they enjoyed the beach when they were younger, hang a picture of the beach for them to see they'll enjoy talking about memories.
8. Music is a

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