The number one reason to choose in-home care for seniors with dementia is that the individual can remain within the comfort and familiarity of his or her home. Dementia affects cognitive function, which can lead to disorientation. Facilitating care at home offers the senior a sense of ease, safety and security.
What is dementia?
Dementia is a progressive condition that affects the mind. Thinking, recalling faces and events and reasoning are all affected. Daily routines and life in general become increasingly challenging in individuals suffering with dementia. The condition can be mild, with dementia just starting its progression, and range to severe, when the senior must rely on the daily support of others to accomplish the most basic tasks.
Although dementia may be a common ailment, not all elderly individuals suffer from it. Half of the elderly population over age 85 may experience some form of dementia. Many people, on the other hand, who live well into their 90s do not suffer from any type of dementia.
It is often assumed that dementia is associated with memory loss. Memory loss alone, which is common in seniors, does not indicate dementia. In order for a senior to be diagnosed with dementia, he or she will have lost two or more cognitive functions, like language capabilities and an ability to focus attention or solve problems. Personality changes and uncontrolled emotions can also accompany dementia. If aspects of basic, daily life become increasingly tough, the difficulty may signal the onset of dementia.
It is important to remember that dementia is not in itself a disease. The term is used to identify a range of symptoms that indicate cognitive decline. Alzheimer’s, for instance, is one of two types of dementia. The second form of dementia is known as vascular dementia, which occurs after a stroke impairs memory.
Dementia has no cure. The condition, once it strikes, will continue to cause deterioration in the afflicted individual. The expected decline is reason enough to seek the support of an in-home caregiver when dementia is initially diagnosed.
Offer Ease With In-Home Care
Rather than admit a senior with dementia to the unfamiliarity of a nursing home or facility, keeping them at home eases their condition. The familiar environment of a home encourages a sense of security. In-home caregivers who are trained in dementia care can help with daily tasks right in the senior’s home.
A full-time in-home caregiver can provide a watchful eye for individuals suffering from dementia. The condition causes sleep problems and behavior changes, including aggression. A caregiver skilled in dementia care can offer optimum assistance when or if these issues take control. Medications are often prescribed for dementia-related symptoms, such as memory problems or behavior issues. An in-home caregiver can ensure that the senior takes the right medications at the designated time and at the proper dosages.
Dementia is a progressive condition. This means that when the senior begins to experience symptoms of dementia, an in-home caregiver can provide faithful assistance even as the individual’s cognitive functions continue to decline.
Find Relief In Routine
As mentioned, a home offers relief. The familiar routines the senior was accustomed to prior to becoming afflicted with dementia reduce confusion. Comfortable routines, too, can be continued by individuals suffering from dementia, when they are given the opportunity to remain at home.
As dementia progresses, individuals may start to increasingly experience forgetfulness, such as misplacing keys or missing appointments. When dementia increasingly takes hold, even grooming or dressing becomes challenging. Over time, too, seniors may have difficulty with playing games or balancing checkbooks – activities that were once simple to them. Dementia patients will also lose their abilities to remember people, life events and their loved ones. They will soon have no recollection of who they are and become unable to function at all without assistance.
In these instances, an in-home caregiver provides the necessary assistance to help the individual resume their daily activities. In-home caregivers are present to help the senior with daily hygiene tasks, and they can transport the individual to the post office or grocery store, as needed. Memory care aides also prepare meals when the individual is unable to cook due to dementia symptoms.
Caregiver Services
Constant care is a requirement for patients with dementia. It is unsafe for seniors suffering from dementia to live alone. If the disease has taken hold, spending any significant time alone at a family home can also cause potential safety issues. Rather than risk a dangerous situation, consult an in-home caregiving service, like Assisting Hands Home Care. The home care service provider trains its staff to handle dementia-related issues, such as memory loss.
Assisting Hands Home Care caregivers are skilled in offering services that are aimed at helping improve memory, for instance. Caregivers also engage in meaningful conversation to learn about the senior’s interests and background, thereby earning the trust of the individual in their care. Mental stimulation is a priority, as well. Assisting Hands aides play card games or accompany seniors on walks to keep them mentally alert and involved. A memory care plan will also be customized with the help of family members to fit the individual needs of the senior. Kindness and compassion in every activity is a priority for each Assisting Hands caregiver.
An in-home caregiver experienced with dementia can provide the most beneficial services to the senior in need of daily assistance. Assisting Hands Home Care is available to send a qualified caregiver familiar with dementia and Alzheimer’s care to your home quickly. Family members have the option to hire a full-time or part-time caregiver to suit the needs of their loved one experiencing dementia. Assisting Hands also offers flexible care to meet inconsistent schedules. Assisting Hands Home Care staff are invested in helping your loved one live a life of well-being.
