Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
November is Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. This week on Health Watch, we’ll talk about ways to make life easier for yourself and for your loved ones when someone around you has Alzheimer’s disease.
One thing you need to do is make sure the home environment is as safe as possible. Peggy Higgins, education director for the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says the key is simplifying everything. Because falls are a major cause of injury, remove clutter from the home, get rid of throw rugs, and make sure there’s adequate lighting, including night lights. Patients should wear shoes with non-slip soles instead of house slippers. You may also need to secure the home in much the same way you might child-proof a home — make sure dangerous chemicals, medicines and sharp objects are where the patient can’t get to them.
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November 2006
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