Your dad was just diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Your family is discussing what care he needs now and when he’ll need home care assistance. How can you tell when home care is necessary?

Understanding the Stages

Every case of Alzheimer’s is different, but there are several stages. Experts believe the symptoms begin many years before the initial diagnosis. Your dad may have been told he has mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI doesn’t always progress into Alzheimer’s, but it can. The signs of MCI are lapses in memories, such as forgetting you told someone something.

Once Alzheimer’s is diagnosed, it’s the mild stages. It becomes hard to manage complex tasks, such as safely driving from one place to another. He’ll struggle to keep track of appointments and remember where he put something. Your dad may start to ask you the same question over and over and get defensive if you tell him he’s already asked you.

The early stages of Alzheimer’s are the ideal time to hire caregivers. He’ll have time to adjust to having a caregiver, and he’ll still be able to learn his caregiver’s name and become familiar with that person.

Within a year or two, the disease usually enters the mid-stages of Alzheimer’s. This is often the longest stage. Your dad will find it hard to manage money. He won’t find it easy to learn new information, remember events that have recently happened, or plan daily activities. He’s going to forget names and struggle with reading and writing.

Towards the end of the mid-stage, your dad won’t be able to manage routine tasks like brushing his teeth or dressing appropriately for the weather. Insomnia may set in, and he’ll start asking to go home and get lost if he goes for a walk.

The late stage of Alzheimer’s often lasts between a year or two. He’ll lose the ability to walk, incontinence is common, and he’ll stop talking. Eventually, he’ll stop eating, and his body shuts down.

It’s a Hard Disease to Predict

There are general guidelines for the stages of Alzheimer’s, but you’ll find they all have a variable timeframe. After being diagnosed, the Mayo Clinic reports a person could live three years or as long as two decades. It’s tough to predict precisely how long it will last.

Home care assistance is one of the best ways to support a parent with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is a complex disease where symptoms can appear seemingly out of the blue. You’re not prepared for wandering, but one afternoon, your dad heads out for his daily walk and gets lost. It’s never happened before, so you had no preventative measures in place.

With home care assistance, your role as a family caregiver is supported. You can take a break and not worry about your dad being alone. Call an agency and ask to speak to an expert in home care assistance to get answers to your questions and learn more.

Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/alzheimers-stages/art-20048448

If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Home Care Assistance in Largo, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.