If you have an elderly loved one that was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, you’re probably very worried. And rightfully so. There’s little you can do about stunting the progression of the disease, at least according to what we know currently about it. You’re probably thinking that your life, as well as that of your elderly loved one, will be turned upside down. While that might be true in the future, that doesn’t have to be the case right now. There are a number of things you can do to mitigate the effects of the disease and keep life moving along more or less normally. And one of those things involves figuring out how to care of Alzheimer’s patients at home.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disease. Alzheimer’s accounts for 60-70% of the total number of cases of dementia. Symptoms include: short-term memory loss (this is usually the first symptom), problems with language, disorientation, mood swings, loss of motivation, not managing self care, and behavioral issues. In 2015, there were just below 30 million people living with Alzheimer’s Disease worldwide. Alzheimer’s affects about 6% of people over the age of 65. Clearly, that is a lot of people. What do they all do? Where do they all live? Do they all have to live in special senior care facilities? The answer to that is, no.
Alzheimer’s Patients Living at Home
Some assisted living facilities can offer services from caregivers who are specially experienced and trained in helping those with Alzheimer’s Disease. But not all assisted living communities can offer these specialized services. If you have an elderly loved one who already lives in such a senior care facility, you can hire the services of a third party caregiver. Some healthcare agencies offer the services of caregivers especially skilled at caring for those with Alzheimer’s to clients who live in assisted living communities, nursing homes, and retirement communities. This can ensure that your elderly loved one is getting the specific care that they need to deal with their Alzheimer’s disease.
But that’s not all. Such agencies can also provide that care to Alzheimer’s patients who live in their own homes. With this specialized care, some Alzheimer’s patients can continue to live in their homes safely and healthily. However, certain precautions have to be taken.
How to Care for Alzheimer’s Patients at Home
How to care for Alzheimer’s patients at home can be a tricky proposition. It’s often not enough to hire any old caregiver to provide care. Alzheimer’s patients need a specific kind of care that is tailored to their situation. Executive Home Care offers the services of caregivers who specialize in caring for patients with Alzheimer’s Disease. Executive Home Care’s specialized caregivers can provide care in assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, and in the homes of clients. In short, you should not hire any healthcare agency that does not have staff that specialize in care for Alzheimer’s patients. Furthermore, it’s often best to bring in a caregiver early on, before the disease has progressed too far. This will allow the caregiver(s) and your elderly loved one to form a rapport and understanding which could be key going forward.
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If you would like to learn more about how to care for Alzheimer’s patients at home, please contact us today.