But caregiving should not isolate you. Nor should you be doing it alone. When caring for a dementia patient, you need to build a team. The bigger the better. Cast your net wide, and don\u2019t assume that people don\u2019t want to help you. You might be surprised, if you ask for help, how many people want to volunteer.<\/p>\n
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Such care teams often start with immediate family: you, your children, your husband, your siblings, your parents\u2019 siblings, and branch outward to include neighbors, church members, and civic organizations.<\/p>\n
The team should also include medical and social work professionals. The doctor who diagnoses a patient with dementia may be part of this team, as is the doctor with whom the patient follows up.<\/p>\n
If your hospital does not assign a social worker to your parent\u2019s case, you can ask for one. Social workers are good at referring you to resources such as transportation, meals on wheels, and adult day care opportunities.<\/p>\n
An occupational therapist can be extremely helpful in assessing the patient\u2019s home for fall risks and needed modifications to make living at home viable.<\/p>\n
Make Home Care Part of Your Team<\/strong><\/p>\n Home care professionals, who visit your parents or grandparents in their houses or apartments, can often make it possible for dementia patients to age in place. These home aides perform a wide variety of tasks, including cooking, cleaning, bathing, and toileting.<\/p>\n These home care workers give caregivers a much needed break to care for themselves. When someone else undertakes the arduous tasks of bathing and house cleaning for a senior, that leaves you free to simply enjoy the companionship of your parent during his or her remaining years.<\/p>\n