When a family member does not recognize you: key points in daily care for Alzheimer's disease
In Alzheimer's care, daily routines and going along with the flow in communication are important. When a family member shows cognitive or behavioral changes, you can discuss them with a doctor. Caregivers should also take care of their own health. This article is based on U.S. materials and is for reference by families in China.
Machine translation of our Chinese article, without human translation review. Suggestions concerning China remain specific to China.
Automatically reviewed, without human verification. Programmatic checks are not professional review. Seek professional advice where appropriate. Automatically reviewed on 10/4/2026, 7:14:25 AM
Chinese fact summaries and suggestions for China (not a full translation)
Original: Helping Dementia Caregivers | Caregiving | CDC · Original language: en
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Facts from the sources
In the United States, about 7 million people currently have Alzheimer's disease, and by 2060 this number is expected to double. View source
The care recipient may not recognize the caregiver, and this is not intentional; caregivers can try not to correct the person's perceptions of the year, place, and the like, and go along with the current situation. View source
For people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, maintaining a daily routine is important. View source
If the care recipient shows behavioral changes such as aggression, this can be discussed with a doctor; these changes may be related to undertreated pain or medication side effects. View source
Caregivers need to maintain their own physical and mental health in order to provide the best care for their loved ones. View source
In the United States, there is a free five-module training course called 'Dementia Dialogues', aimed at community members and caregivers, introducing dementia symptoms, communication strategies, and problem-solving methods. View source
For older people and families
Try to eat, sleep, and do activities at fixed times each day, so that the older adult feels a sense of security.
When the older adult mistakes the year or place, you can first go along with what they are saying, without repeatedly correcting them.
If the older adult suddenly loses their temper or becomes impatient, it may not be intentional; it is recommended to consult a doctor to find out the cause.
Caregivers should also rest well; when emotions are unstable, pause for a while before continuing care.
When speaking with the older adult, slow down the pace and use short sentences, and see whether they can understand.
If the older adult develops new behavioral problems, record the time and circumstances and bring them to the doctor for reference.
See what care and community teams can do
Communities can refer to the approach of the free U.S. 'Dementia Dialogues' training to design localized courses, but they first need to understand community care resources in China.
Before carrying out caregiver training, the actual needs of the venue, instructors, and older adults' family members should be assessed, and foreign models should not be directly copied.
Training content may include common dementia symptoms, communication skills, and responses to problem behaviors, but it must be reviewed and approved by professional medical and nursing staff.
For older adults with behavioral changes such as aggression, institutions should assist family members in contacting a doctor to check for pain or medication side effects, rather than handling it themselves.
In community outreach, the importance of daily routines for older adults should be emphasized, and concrete, feasible example schedules should be provided.
Institutions can establish caregiver support groups for regular experience exchange, but should respect the privacy of older adults and not disclose specific personal information.
What needs local assessment
The above content comes from care recommendations published in the United States in 2024, and is not current Chinese policy or medical guidance. The manifestations of Alzheimer's disease vary from person to person; if behavioral changes occur, please consult a professional doctor. The patient numbers and projections in the statistics reflect only overall trends and do not represent any individual older adult's risk. Any care approach needs to be adjusted according to the older adult's actual situation. Fact source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). The original materials are freely available on the CDC website. This website and the localized recommendations do not represent endorsement by CDC, HHS, or the U.S. government; their images or logos have not been reproduced.
Sources
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Was this article helpful?
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