Caring for Someone With Alzheimer’s

The Pulse

September 2024

People with memory loss or other possible signs of Alzheimer's may find it hard to recognize they have a problem. Signs of dementia may be more obvious to family members or friends. Anyone experiencing dementia-like symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible.

Common early warning signs of Alzheimer's or dementia include:

Memory loss that disrupts your daily life
Difficulty completing familiar tasks
Confusion with time or place
Trouble understanding visual images
New problems with words or speaking
Changes in mood or personality

And remember, foggy thinking or memory lapses don't automatically mean brain disease. Treatable and reversible causes could include sleep apnea, vitamin deficiencies and even depression.

How to Help Your Brain

Embrace lifestyle habits that improve your overall health, such as exercising, consuming a nutritious diet and staying cognitively and socially active. Science suggests these may support brain health as well. It's never too late to make changes to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Eating a healthy and balanced diet
Taking care of your heart health
Exercising and staying active
Participating in social activities
Challenging your brain on a regular basis, specifically with activities that require you to think strategically

Tips for Everyday Care for People With Dementia

Early on in Alzheimer's and related dementias, people experience changes in thinking, remembering, and reasoning in a way that affects daily life and activities. Eventually, people with these diseases will need more help with simple, everyday tasks. This may include bathing, grooming and dressing. It may be upsetting to the person to need help with such personal activities. Here are a few tips to consider early on and as the disease progresses:

Try to keep a routine, such as bathing, dressing and eating at the same time each day.
Help the person write down to-do lists, appointments and events in a notebook or calendar.
Plan activities that the person enjoys and try to do them at the same time each day.
Consider a system or reminders for helping those who must take medications regularly.
When dressing or bathing, allow the person to do as much as possible.
Buy loose-fitting, comfortable, easy-to-use clothing, such as clothes with elastic waistbands, fabric fasteners, or large zipper pulls instead of shoelaces, buttons, or buckles.
Use a sturdy shower chair to support a person who is unsteady and to prevent falls. You can buy shower chairs at drug stores and medical supply stores.
Be gentle and respectful. Tell the person what you are going to do, step by step while you help them bathe or get dressed.
Serve meals in a consistent, familiar place and give the person enough time to eat.

Resources for TRS-ActiveCare and TRS-Care Standard

Provider Finder® and Personal Health Guides

For help finding a mental health provider, use Provider Finder®. A Personal Health Guide can also help you find an in-network provider and even make your appointment. Call 1-866-355-5999 24/7 or chat through the BCBSTX App.

Headway

Headway can make finding mental health providers and scheduling appointments easier. It provides a list of mental health providers based off your location, concerns and insurance carrier.

Teladoc

Use Teladoc to speak with a licensed mental health provider online or over the phone.

Learn to Live

Learn to Live is a digital mental health program available at no added cost to you. Its programs can help you with stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse and more.

Well onTarget®

Wellness Coaching through Well onTarget® can help you meet your health and wellness goals while you care for your loved one. Wellness Coaches are credentialed health experts like dietitians, nurses, personal trainers and more. They'll work one on one with you to develop a plan based on your lifestyle. You can sign up for programs like:

stress management
fitness
nutrition
weight loss
cholesterol improvement
blood pressure improvement
smoking cessation

Reach out to a wellness coach:

Resources for TRS-Care Medicare Advantage

Annual In-Home Visit

With UnitedHealthcare® HouseCalls, get a yearly in-home health and wellness visit from one of our licensed health care practitioners at no additional cost to you. The visit includes:

Up to an hour of one-on-one time with the health care practitioner
Health screenings tailored to you
A medication review
A chance to get advice and ask questions to help you manage your health
A visit summary that is sent to you and your primary care provider

To learn more, visit UHC HouseCalls or call 1-866-447-7868, TTY 711.

Healthy at Home

UnitedHealthcare® Healthy at Home provides you with the support you may need to recover from inpatient hospital and skilled nursing facility stays. You are eligible to receive:

28 home-delivered meals when referred by a UnitedHealthcare Engagement Specialist
12 one-way rides to medically related appointments and to the pharmacy when referred by a UnitedHealthcare Engagement Specialist
Six hours of non-medical personal care provided through a professional caregiver to perform tasks such as preparing meals, bathing, medication reminders and more. A referral is not required.

To learn more, call 1-866-347-9507, TTY 711, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. local time, Monday Friday or visit Health & Wellness on your member website.

Virtual Visits

See a medical provider or talk to a behavioral health specialist anytime using live video chat from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

Virtual Provider Visits: Ask questions, get a diagnosis or even get medication prescribed and have it sent to your pharmacy
Virtual Behavioral Health Visits: Talk to a behavioral health specialist for addiction, depression, anxiety, stress, loss, and behavioral health medication management

Find a list of participating Virtual Visit providers by logging in to your member website.

No-cost Annual Wellness Visit and Preventive Care

Check in with your primary care provider (PCP)
Create a preventive care plan
Review medications
Talk about any health concerns

For help scheduling, call 1-866-347-9507, TTY 711, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. local time, Monday Friday.

Let's Move by UnitedHealthcare®

Let's Move, our health and wellness program, helps keep your mind, body and social life active. With simple resources, tools, events and personalized support, Let's Move helps you explore ways to eat well, stay connected and be financially, physically and mentally fit — all at no additional cost to you.

To explore, visit Let's Move by UnitedHealthcare through your member website.

Routine Transportation

Twenty-four one-way or 12 round trip rides per year up to 100 miles to and from medically related appointments and pharmacy trips.

For more information call 1-866-347-9507, TTY 711, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. local time, Monday Friday.

SilverSneakers®

SilverSneakers® is a fitness benefit that includes:

A free membership and access to group exercise classes at participating fitness locations.
Classes to get active outside of traditional gyms.
Virtual resources and a support network through SilverSneakers LIVE™, SilverSneakers
On-Demand™ and the SilverSneakers GO™ fitness app.
SilverSneakers Steps for members 15 miles or more from a participating fitness center. Choose the kit that works best for you: general fitness, strength, walking or yoga.

Find a participating location at SilverSneakersor call toll-free 1-888-338-1722, TTY 711.

Mental and behavioral health resources

Ongoing mental health support with Optum® Behavioral Health
Resources through our Health and Wellness experience

To learn more, call 1-866-347-9507, TTY 711, 7 a.m.– 6 p.m. local time, Monday Friday or visit Health & Wellness on your member website.

UnitedHealthcare® Hearing

Receive friendly, expert advice through our national network of 6,500+ hearing providers— or try virtual appointments. Get personalized support to help you adjust to your new hearing aids. Choose from the latest technology from popular brands, including Phonak, Starkey®, Signia, ReSound, Widex® and Unitron™.

To learn more, call 1-866-445-2071, TTY 711, or visit UnitedHealthcare Hearing.

24/7 Provider Support

Get answers to your health questions with 24/7 provider support.

Providers can diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, and prescribe medication
Connect by phone, web or app from anywhere
Results of the visit can be shared with your Primary Care Provider

Find a list of participating providers by logging in to your member website.

In-Home Personal Care

Eight hours a month of non-medically related care which allows you to receive assistance with daily activities such as laundry, mopping, organizing, watering plants and more.

For more information call 1-866-347-9507, TTY 711, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. local time, Monday–Friday.