Tips for Living Alone with Early-Stage Dementia

Scan Your Home for Safety

Making minor changes in your home can create a safer environment. For example:

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  Get rid of unused items and extra furniture. If there are things you no longer use (such as clothing, appliances, decorations, and furniture), now is the time to remove them. Consider giving items to family and friends or donating items in good condition to a charity. Some organizations will pick items up from your home.

• Remove items that you may trip over. Move electrical cords, pick up throw rugs, and look for other things you might trip over. Falls can cause injury and disability that may make it difficult to live alone. Read more about fall prevention.
• Install an automatic shut-off switch on the stove. This switch can help prevent a fire from starting if the stove is left on accidentally. If necessary, have your stove disabled. Consider using a microwave or cooking device with an automatic shut-off, such as a slow cooker or rice cooker, to heat up food.
• Set the water heater at 120 °F. This setting will help you to avoid burns from scalding tap water and may help save money, too!
• Improve bathroom safety. Add nonskid mats to showers and tubs. Also consider installing grab bars in the tub or shower. Add a nightlight in the bathroom or hallway and keep a flashlight near your bed for trips to the bathroom at night.
• Carry identification with you. Medical ID bracelets and necklaces are helpful in case you get lost or need help. In an emergency, an ID can also let emergency responders know if you have allergies or special medical needs.
• Consider getting safety devices to alert others in an emergency. Personal safety devices you may want to consider include fall monitors, emergency call buttons, and GPS tracking systems. Talk to your doctor or social worker about finding an alert system to notify family and friends if you fall, become ill, or get lost.
• Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed and working throughout your home. These detectors should be installed in or near the kitchen and all bedrooms. Set reminders to check the batteries every six months.
• Get help with home maintenance and organization. Ask a family member or hire a professional service to help with tasks like managing clutter and making home repairs. Add labels to cabinets and drawers to make it easier to find flashlights, fire extinguishers, and other safety items quickly.

For more home safety tips, read the Home Safety Checklist for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Prepare for the Future

Preparing for the future may be difficult to think about. But by starting discussions with family and friends early, everyone can help make decisions together. Talk about health and finances now, rather than later, to make sure you have a say in future decisions.

Discuss decisions about health and finances as soon as possible to ensure that others, including your doctor and family, understand your preferences for your late-stage or end-of-life decisions. Other ways to prepare for the future include:

• Get legal and financial matters in order as soon as possible. Prepare or update your will, living will, and durable powers of attorney for health care and finances. If you need legal advice, call your lawyer, or contact the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (703-942-5711) to find an attorney. Be sure to let someone you trust know where your documents are kept or give them a copy. Read to learn more about advance care planning.
• Understand your options for in-home care. Family members and friends may be able to help with everyday activities. If you need more help, look into options for a personal care assistant or home health care aide. Consider the costs of these services and whether any of the costs are covered by insurance. Check with your insurance provider(s) and resources like Benefits.gov and BenefitsCheckUp to find out about benefits you may qualify for. Learn more about long-term care and how to pay for it.
• Plan for care when you can no longer live alone. There will likely come a time when you need more day-to-day care and support. Could a family member or caregiver move in with you? Or could you move in with them? Professional home care, assisted living communities, and nursing homes are other options.
• If you work, consider your options. You could share your diagnosis with your employer and discuss how to adjust your work. Under the Americans With Disabilities Act, employers with more than 15 employees are required to provide reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. This might include changing your hours, getting reminders, or splitting up large tasks. Learn more about Alzheimer’s and employment.
• Find out about potential disability benefits if you are no longer able to work. People with dementia may be eligible for disability income through private disability insurance (if you purchased this previously), Social Security, or veterans’ benefits. A Social Security program called Compassionate Allowances ensures quick review of disability benefit claims for people with conditions including early-onset Alzheimer’s and several other types of dementia.

Strengthen Your Support System

Family members, friends, or other caregivers may be able to help in different ways. Here are some suggestions:

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  Identify family and friends who can help. Talk to them about your diagnosis and ask if they can visit you regularly and be an emergency contact. Write down and save their phone numbers and other contact information in an obvious place, such as on your refrigerator door or in your wallet or mobile phone. Even family members who live far away can help. Read about long-distance caregiving.

• Consider sharing your diagnosis with neighbors you trust. Neighbors are often the first people to notice if someone is wandering or looks lost and they may be able to get help. Get tips for helping family and friends understand Alzheimer’s.
• Visit a health care provider. Your primary care doctor, neurologist, or other specialist can track changes in your memory, thinking, and ability to complete everyday tasks. Ask the doctor to provide you with a care plan and write down directions (or have a family member or friend take notes during the visit). If getting to the doctor’s office is difficult, ask your doctor about home visits or telehealth appointments. The office may also be able to recommend home health care services or a geriatric care manager, a person who helps older people find services they need.
• Learn about home- and community-based support and services. Social service agencies, local nonprofits, and Area Agencies on Aging can provide or refer you to in-home help, transportation, and meals to help you live at home. Call the Eldercare Locator (800-677-1116) to learn about services in your area. Learn more about getting help with Alzheimer’s caregiving.
• Stay connected with technology. Smartphones, computers, and tablets can connect you with family and friends through video calls, email, and social media. You may want to get products that are easy to use, such as a telephone with pictures for dialing. Whatever technology you choose, start early so you can learn the system and establish a routine. Are you unfamiliar with technology? Ask your local library or community center about classes.
• Talk with others who share your condition. Ask your doctor’s office or a social worker about support groups in your community or hosted by nonprofit organizations. For example, the Alzheimer’s Association has both online and in-person support groups and a 24-hour helpline (800-272-3900). Many NIA-supported Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers offer programs and events for people with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia and their caregivers. Your community may also have a memory café — a place for people with dementia and their caregivers to enjoy activities and socialize.
• Get urgent help if you need it. If you are experiencing depression or have thoughts of harming yourself, immediate help is available. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) to speak with someone 24 hours a day.

Take care of your physical and mental health

Eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and staying connected with others offer proven benefits for well-being. Here are some tips for taking care of your mind and body if you have early-stage dementia:

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  Exercise. You don’t have to join a gym or spend a lot of money to be physically active. Even light housework, gardening, and walking around the neighborhood can have benefits. Experts recommend both aerobic exercise (such as walking) and strength training (such as lifting weights). Learn more about physical activity for people with dementia.

• Eat right. Eating healthy foods helps everyone stay well, and it’s particularly important for people with dementia. Learn more about healthy eating.
• Make sleep a priority. Dementia often changes a person’s sleeping habits. But there are steps you can take to help you get a good night’s sleep, including following a regular sleep schedule.
• Be mindful. One way to help manage stress and reduce anxiety is a technique called mindfulness, which involves focusing awareness on the present moment without judgment. Learn more about the health benefits of mindfulness in daily living.
• Stay social. Spending meaningful time with others can help you cope with challenges and improve your quality of life. Join a support group, chat with family and friends regularly, or share activities you enjoy with your spouse or partner. Learn more about how to continue to participate in activities you enjoy.