In-Home Alzheimer’s And Dementia Care Services
Dementia is not a single disease. Dementia is a broad term that encompasses several types of progressive disorders. These disorders have a wide range of symptoms.
Most people have heard of the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease.
According to the Alzheimers Association of the estimated 5.5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2017, an estimated 5.3 million are age 65 and older, and approximately 200,000 individuals are under age 65 and have what is called younger-onset Alzheimer’s.
Forms and Types of Dementia
In addition to Alzheimer’s Disease, some other forms and types of dementia include:
• Parkinsons Disease
• Huntington’s Disease
• Dementia with Lewy Bodies
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
• Frontotemporal Dementia
• Mixed Dementia
• Vascular Dementia
• Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
• Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other related diseases are progressive biological brain disorders and get worse over time. Years ago, almost all of those with dementia would end up in a long-term care facility as their symptoms got worse.
However, now there is a range of support and medical services available to help people stay in their homes.
Care At Home vs Long Term Care Facility
While a long-term care facility option may still be the best option for many, for others receiving dementia care at home may provide more significant benefits. This doesn’t mean that family members or friends need to be the only caregivers.
A reputable and experienced home care program can help your loved one with dementia live at home, safely and comfortably.
Some will benefit from having a light housekeeping visit a few hours a week to help with keeping the house clean and others may need help with shopping and meal preparation.
Others may require a full-time caregiver to provide support 24/7.
Reasons to consider in-home care for seniors with dementia include:
• People with dementia often have difficulty dealing with change. Helping them to remain at home, in a familiar setting can prevent negative behaviours that may be triggered by a change
• People with dementia need help to remember to do basic self-care tasks. A home care aide helps the person with bathing, toileting, and other hygiene needs.
• Home care aides provide respite services for family and friends, especially those who serve as caregivers
• People with dementia may also need help outside the home, and an aide can help with additional support such as accompanying them to doctor’s appointments, recreational activities, and social groups
• Help with medication reminders and make sure their other medical needs are met.
Challenges of Dementia For Families
The decision to care for a loved one with dementia at home poses many challenges for families and caregivers. Having brain disorders makes it increasingly difficult for those affected to think, remember what they need to do, take care of themselves and communicate with others.
Dementia can also change a person’s personality, cause mood swings and change behaviours. Because these behaviours are new to family members, they may not be prepared psychologically and physically to help their loved one.
Stages of Dementia And Care Needed
The Early stage of dementia requires help with medication management, organization, money management, keeping appointments, and developing coping strategies to maintain independence. During this stage, it is crucial to make care plans for the future as the disease progresses.
The Middle stages of dementia typically last 2 to 10 years and additional care is needed than in the Early stage of the disease. Memory is significantly affected and the individual may not recognize familiar faces, or they may become lost in an area in which they know. It is vital that an individual with dementia in this stage follow a structured schedule, which can aid in reducing feelings of anxiety and stress commonly associated with dementia.
Mood and behaviour become more erratic. There may be occasional aggression or uninhibitedness because they are losing the ability to reason.
Individuals often have difficulty with coordination and physical movements. In this stage, dementia patients need more assistance with what is appropriate clothing to wear and activities of daily living, such as feeding and dressing.
Late-stage dementia typically lasts 1 to 3 years or more. Individuals require intensive 24-hour-a-day care.
Late stage is characterized by people showing extreme confusion, both in present circumstances and remembering past events. The ability to process information becomes impaired, and the individual will have a very difficult time communicating verbally if they can do so at all.
Behavior and mood are usually unpredictable and they may even experience hallucinations. Commonly, an individual in this stage will need to move to a facility, such as a Memory Care Unit to receive the extensive care that they require.
In-Home Care For Dementias
Our staff is trained on Dementia and its progression, as well as how to handle the erratic behaviour and moods.
We how to maintain low-stress levels for the affected individual, instead of unintentionally escalating the stress.
Our home care staff cater to the specific needs of individuals with dementia. We work with each individual to learn about and incorporate fun activities to stimulate their memory.
We also assist with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as dressing, shopping, preparing meals, room modifications, medication reminders as well as helping to provide the family with support and respite for the family.
We understand that it is difficult to know when to seek outside help. For quality care, it is essential to find a home caregiver who is experienced and qualified to handle the various and ever changing challenges of people living with dementia.
About Unique HomeCare Services
Unique HomeCare Services provides in-home care for elders and people who are recuperating from illness, injury, or surgery.
We offer a full range of in-home care services such as personal care, grooming and incontinence care, bathing and dressing, post-hospitalization care, Alzheimer’s and Dementia care, and medication management.
We also provide non-medical support services such as meal planning and preparation, light housekeeping, caring companionship, shopping/errands, accompanying to medical and other appointments, as well as case management services.
Our services are available for long-term and short-term care needs from as little as a one 4 hour day visit a week to 24 Hour and Live-In Care.
We also offer Respite Care services to assist family caregivers going away or with caregiver fatigue.
It is our pleasure to assist our veteran clients with VA Aid and Attendance Benefit approval at no cost.
We have an extensive Directory of Online Senior and Caregiver Resources for the information you need.
Our service area is Boston, Norwood, Dedham, Westwood, Walpole, Canton, Sharon, Stoughton, Avon, Braintree, Easton, Milton, Quincy, Weymouth, and surrounding towns.
To schedule a no cost and no obligation full In-Home Assessment to determine the home care needs of you or your loved one please call us at (800) 296-9962 to speak to a Case Manager or fill out our Free Quote Contact Form.