Health Tip: Early-Stage Alzheimer's

(HealthDay News) -- People with early-stage Alzheimer's disease may fear losing their independence and being reliant on someone else.

Here are suggestions on how to maintain independence longer, courtesy of the Alzheimer's Association:

• Hire a service or ask a friend to help with activities, such as paying bills, cooking meals, cleaning the house or going to the grocery.

• Write instructions on how to work appliances, place labels on items you frequently forget, and compose notes to help you remember to perform certain tasks.

• Help keep your home safe by reducing the risk of slips and falls. For example, install grab bars in the bathroom. Also, make sure appliances have automatic shutoffs.

• Enroll in a safety alert program, so you can immediately get help if you need it.

• If you can't drive, get a bus schedule, have a cab company's phone number handy, or ask friends and family to drive you.

• Try to stay as physically and socially active as you can, and don't be afraid to ask for help.