When seniors are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other types of Dementia, the people most affected are adult children or other caregivers. Serious decisions must be made about their parents’ care. The least traumatic option is for parents to be cared for at home by a home care agency like Assisting Hands. The familiar surroundings can diminish anxiety, and can give respite to family members charged with taking care of their parents. Home care experts from Assisting Hands can advise on ways to handle safety and anger issues, and help ensure that seniors with dementia are taking proper medications and eating.
Recognizing the symptoms
Recognizing symptoms and early diagnosis can allow planning to manage challenges. The Alzheimer’s association reports that the disease can last 6-20 years and typically has a gradual beginning and slow progression. Alzheimer’s disease has no cure, treatments combined with the right support services can make life easier for millions of Americans and their families. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can be difficult because each day brings new challenges.
According to Selfhelp.com, “caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease impacts every aspect of daily life. As Alzheimer’s patients lose one ability after another, caregivers face tests of stamina, problem-solving, and resiliency. During this long and difficult journey, communication diminishes, rewards decrease, and without strong support, caretakers face challenges to their own well-being.”
Family caregivers can reduce stress and anxiety through outside assistance from Assisting Hands. We can help with patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s if the family is unable to do so or needs a little help to have the patient stay at home.
Monitoring Common Behavior Patterns
(Wandering)
At the root of any home care are safety concerns. Alzheimer’s clients frequently like to walk so caregiver agencies can provide one-on-one care to clients in their home to ensure that they do not leave the home by themselves. Prevention should include that outside access doors are locked and require a key to unlock them from the inside. Assisting Hands home caregivers can make sure clients are dressed appropriately and standby to assist to avoid falls and dangerous obstacles. They also will ensure that patients don’t leave the stove on or water running because of memory loss
(Companionship)
Socialization is a key component of Alzheimer’s care. Many families report the Alzheimer’s clients’ mood improves through improved communication and calmness.
Due to the one-on-one nature of private duty care, they can provide companionship when adult children have other responsibilities. For Alzheimer’s patients, confusion can be exacerbated in the evening, when darkness can cause anxiety. Assisting Hands’ friendly and fully-trained home aides can provide all-night care to monitor behavior.
(Nutrition)
Memory loss can dramatically affect self-care including skipped meals, bathing, and personal hygiene. Caregivers are trained to assist clients in meal preparation and regular personal care. Common to Alzheimer’s is the fear of water, adding another layer of stress to something as simple as bathing. Caregivers document when the last bath occurred and are trained on how to make regular bathing a part of seniors’ lives. Caregivers from Assisting Hands are trained to walk with clients regularly and monitor toilet visits to reduce accidents.
(Medication reminders)
Seniors as a rule often neglect to take their proper medications or take the wrong medication at the wrong time. This non-adherence is especially dangerous among Alzheimer’s patients. Industry data shows that medication non-adherence is responsible for up to 33 percent to 69 percent of medication-related hospital admissions and 23 percent of all nursing home admissions. It is also estimated that of the 3 billion medication prescriptions issued each year in the United States, 12 percent are never picked up by the patient and 40 percent are not taken correctly.
One of the advantages of using home care aids from Assisting Hands is that they are on site to ensure that the correct medications are taken at the right time. They also can monitor whether a patient has run out of needed medications, and can travel to the pharmacy to refill prescriptions.
Call Us for a Consultation
There is a natural tendency for adult children to take on the responsibilities caring for family members with Alzheimer’s and other Dementia, but continued care without respite and help can diminish quality of life and often leads to a contentious relationship with the very people you are trying to help. That’s why our Assisting Hands in-home caregivers can offer the assistance that ensures safety and sanity. Contact us for a consultation.
