Coping with Forgetfulness in ... Video Transcript

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Steps can also be taken to help keep a person with Alzheimer's safely at home.

GARY W. SMALL, MD: Many families are familiar with childproofing a house and a lot of those devices, fences, gates, other devices that are very handy ought to be used in a household where there's a dementia patient.

ANNOUNCER: Stoves can be a special hazard. And caregivers sometimes find they need to take knobs off switches or gas dials. Patients may also need help with their medications, to make sure doses don't get skipped or doubled up. Sometimes, patients maintain their best possible mental health through creative, new activities.

ALAN DENGIZ, MD: One of the new areas that we're looking at is trying to stimulate the nondominant side of our brains. For right-handed, our left side is the dominant side. That's going to be the more mechanical side. Our right side is going to be the artistic side and maybe the more spiritual side. But we don't use the nondominant side of our brains enough. So one of the therapies that is being used in Alzheimer's disease is art therapy, is creative writing, getting people to think and do things that they might not ordinarily do that will help to stimulate and wake up the nondominant side or the more artistic side of the brain.

ANNOUNCER: Many steps can be taken to improve the quality of life of a person with the Alzheimer's disease. Medications can help delay the progression of symptoms. And techniques used at home: sticking to routines, compensating for memory problems, and minimizing hazards can help people with Alzheimer's cope more effectively.

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