Seniors living with dementia fare best when they remain in a familiar home environment. In-home memory care is the ideal form of care for these patients and is preferable over sending the senior to a long-term care facility. Several other benefits also come with home care.

How is home care beneficial to dementia patients?

As mentioned, the senior’s home is the most preferred space in which to live for as long as possible. The familiar home setting provides a sense of security to elderly adults with memory issues. It also prevents the disorientation that can accompany a move to a facility.

At the early stages of dementia, remaining at home is practical. As the dementia progresses, however, the senior’s ability to function independently dwindles, thereby necessitating help with the activities of daily living. Family members can become quickly overwhelmed by their increasing needs.

Home care professionals are the solution to the constant monitoring and care required of dementia patients. Memory care providers are experienced in managing the myriad of symptoms caused by Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia and are invaluable in the daily life of seniors.

Today’s senior care agencies are staffed with trained and experienced memory care providers who can identify symptoms associated with dementia and alleviate discomfort. Qualified dementia caregivers are integral to the management of dementia care at home and, therefore, beneficial to families.

In addition to living in a familiar home environment, seniors benefit from daily routines. Knowing what to expect during the day, such as mealtimes, physical activity sessions and bedtime, prevents the senior from becoming frustrated, confused, or anxious. Home care providers establish fitting routines.

Assistance with the activities of daily living is also provided by home care professionals. Caregivers support dementia patients with hygiene tasks, such as bathroom use and dressing. Light housekeeping is performed to keep the home clean and hygienic. Memory care providers also prepare balanced meals.

Do caregivers administer medication?

While home care is non-medical in nature, professional caregivers do provide timely medication reminders to ensure medication compliance. However, unless the care received is specifically provided by a skilled home health aide, home care workers do not administer medication to dementia patients.

The skilled care services provided by home health care professionals range from wound care to injections and physical or occupational therapies. These types of medical services are coordinated by the home health care agency once the senior’s physician writes the order.

Does Medicare cover home care services?

Medicare does not cover home care. Seniors with dementia who only need help with the activities of daily living, such as meal preparation, grocery shopping, transportation, or light housekeeping, should find alternative means, such as private pay or reverse mortgages, to pay for the home care services.

However, Medicare will cover intermittent skilled nursing care at home if the services are medically necessary and ordered by the senior’s physician. Certain criteria must be met before dementia patients can be eligible to receive coverage from Medicare for home health care expenses.

Being homebound is one criterion for Medicare coverage; the senior must require assistance from another person or a device to leave the home. The dementia patient must also be under a medical plan of care, one that a doctor establishes and reviews on a regular basis.

How do families find a home care agency?

Dementia care requires skill and experience. A reputable home care agency provides caregivers with dementia care training and is recommended as an option. In addition to providing help with the activities of daily living, caregivers support dementia patients in numerous beneficial ways.

Seniors stay engaged with the memory caregiver when the latter breaks down activities into smaller, manageable steps. Memory caregivers reduce agitation through redirection and validation. Communication is also tailored to the needs of seniors by experienced and skilled dementia caregivers.

Safety is a critical component of dementia care since seniors with the illness tend to wander. Dementia caregivers guide care recipients to safety. The professionals also assess the home for fall risks. The supervision and assistance from memory care providers keep dementia patients safe.

Finding a reliable home care agency that offers the abovementioned services starts with speaking to the senior’s doctor and receiving recommendations. Medicare offers an online health tool to find local Medicare-certified home health agencies. The Alzheimer’s Association also offers online resources.

Obtain referrals for qualified home care agencies from the local Alzheimer’s Association chapter. Another resource is the Eldercare Locator Online Tool. Families can also get first-hand opinions from friends, relatives, and neighbors who have recently hired a home care agency.

Create a list of the senior’s care needs as a starting point to determining which home care agency can best meet those requirements. Also develop a list of interview questions that address experience with caring for dementia patients and the ability to provide services for specific behavioral care needs.

Families that develop a list of care needs and questions find that their requirements are met by reputable home care agencies, like Assisting Hands Home Care. Our professional caregivers are qualified to provide quality dementia care to seniors at all stages of the disease in Collegeville, King of Prussia, Limerick, Norristown, West Norriton and surrounding areas in Montgomery County, PA 

Our Alzheimer’s and dementia care services go beyond standard home care. Memory caregivers from our agency utilize positive reinforcement to calm agitated seniors, for example. We engage the senior in memory exercises to keep their minds stimulated. Our caregivers also take seniors on safe outings.

Living with dementia can be lonely and isolating. Assisting Hands Home Care providers serve as friendly companions. We keep seniors social and active by playing card games, reading them books, or initiating craft projects. Dementia care services also include help with everyday non-medical tasks.

Finding a reputable home care agency is as easy as scheduling an in-home consultation with Assisting Hands Home Care. Countless families in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, can attest to our dedication to promoting the well-being of seniors with dementia. Call us at (610) 795-2896 today to learn more about memory home care.