Giving Compass' Take:

• COVID-19 presents barriers for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease. Here are five ways that caregivers can support them during this time. 

• What can communities do for both caregivers and individuals with Alzheimer's? How can charitable dollars help support the elderly population during a health crisis? 

• Read more on how you can help elderly adults during social isolation.

Here, Monica Townsend, a training and consultation specialist at the Comprehensive Services on Aging at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care at Rutgers University shares some ways caregivers can help their loved ones cope through the health crisis—and help themselves at the same time.

  1.  Keep up a routine. If your loved one was attending a day program that has closed and is now at home with you, it would be helpful to have a structured day with planned activities.
  2. Practice self-care. Make your home your sanctuary. Take time to practice things that make you feel good and less anxious.
  3. Cope with stress and anxiety. Your loved one may experience a heightened sense of stress being home bound more than usual.
  4. Address spiritual needs. Like you, your loved one may have a desire to still be spiritual while home bound.
  5. Stay connected. You may find it harder to stay connected while home bound. Use technology to help stay connected to loved ones and much-needed resources.

Read the full article about helping those with Alzheimer's during COVID-19 by Patti Verbanas at Futurity.