Clutter

Just like a person who has Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), someone with dementia or Alzheimer's needs an environment that is as clutter-free as possible.  When they want to make a decision, there is a finite amount of time until they lose their train of thought.  If there is very little clutter, they have a better chance of executing their thought.  This pertains to closets, kitchens and bathrooms as well as life in general.  

Most ladies have way more makeup and hair products than they actually use.  So, put away or throw away anything that they don't need for their daily routine.

In the kitchen, do everything you can to keep the counter tops clear of clutter.  This can really help when they go to get a snack or make a sandwich.  If there is clutter everywhere, they will have a very difficult time deciding what to do next.  The same goes with the refrigerator.  Make sure that everything that they would want is in front of them and in plain sight.

Having a couple of outfits already put together in the closet can be very helpful.  Putting an outfit together and hanging it on the closet door for the next day can even sidestep the whole process of trying to figure out what to wear for the day. Put matching jewelry in a baggie and  attach it to the hanger with their outfit. This will likely make women think that they got everything ready the night before.  It is also helpful to men to take the belt out of their dirty trousers and put it in clean trousers along with their wallet and change.

When your loved one goes to bed, assuming they have taken their clothes off, grab the dirty clothes, get them out of sight and put the clean ones where they will easily find them. If they do sleep in their clothes, usually the only way to get them to change is when they shower.  Put their clean outfit in the bathroom or on the bed where they can see them and know they have already planned what to wear for the day.


On a daily basis, go throughout the house and straighten up anything that has been moved out of place or become untidy. This will, of course, mean extra effort on your part. But, in the long run, as you'll no doubt discover, it will be well worth it.

The more cluttered your loved one's surroundings are, the more cluttered their mind will be while trying to make any decision.  So, keep things tidy to help keep their daily lives as smooth and easy sailing as possible.