A disease such as Alzheimer’s, or another form of dementia, can be a terrible thing, but with Alzheimer’s and dementia care, patients can lead better lives.
Alzheimer’s And Dementia
Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease that accounts for about 60%–70% of all cases of dementia. Dementia is a collection of cognitive symptoms caused by the degeneration of brain matter. These neurodegenerative diseases are progressive, which means they get worse over time. Approximately 50 million people globally live with Alzheimer’s disease.
The causes of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are not well understood. Some forms of dementia seem to be caused by brain injuries, but it’s not clear what role injury might play in Alzheimer’s. Current estimates reckon that about 70% of the risk of developing the disease arises from genetic factors.
The first symptom to present in an Alzheimer’s patient is often the inability to remember recent events. As the disease progresses, other symptoms manifest, such as the loss of motivation (e.g., eating, exercising, getting out of bed, etc.), problems with language, disorientation (getting lost easily, misremembering where you are, etc.), mood swings, and behavioral problems.
Alzheimer’s And Dementia Care
When diagnosed early, Alzheimer’s patients rarely need any special care right away. But they will need care eventually, and when they do, there are benefits to receiving care that is tailored to Alzheimer’s patients specifically. Where can Alzheimer’s and dementia patients receive this customized care?
Alzheimer’s And Dementia Care Homes
There are senior care facilities that are partially or fully dedicated to caring for residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. They are sometimes called memory care homes. These facilities can combine elements of nursing homes and assisted living communities and meet all the needs of their patients with neurodegenerative problems. Alzheimer’s and dementia care is difficult, though, because the disease manifests itself in different ways in different patients. And this can happen at very different speeds, too.
Alzheimer’s And Dementia Home Care
Alzheimer’s and dementia patients can also receive care in their own homes. In-home care helps countless seniors with many different issues. Dementia and Alzheimer’s don’t necessarily change this. Early on, in-home Alzheimer’s and dementia care can be as simple as a caregiver meeting with their client and chatting with them to see if and how the disease is progressing. They can remind their clients to take medication and take care of household chores and errands for them. Eventually, Alzheimer’s patients need personal care.
Executive Care
You can trust Executive Care to provide you with excellent in-home caregiving services. To learn more about Alzheimer’s and dementia care, please contact us via our website or call (888) 963-9133.