Alzheimer’s – When is it time to get help?

Advice for families of those suffering from Alzheimer’s

Assessing the needs of a loved one in any stage of Alzheimer’s can be incredibly difficult and painful. Many family caregivers liken it to being a first-time parent who senses something amiss with a newborn, but lacks the experience to know exactly when to seek medical intervention. When Alzheimer’s symptoms are sporadic, medical decisions may present an even greater challenge. These sporadic symptoms, say experts, can leave family members affected by Alzheimer’s feeling confused and exhausted.

When the Time Comes

It is time to consider getting help to care for a person with Alzheimer’s when there are changes in mood, behavior, appearance, functioning, or health status that are unmanageable without help. These events place the person or others at risk.

One reason for delaying care is the desire to avoid disrupting the lifestyle of a person with Alzheimer’s, however, this effort can backfire. A senior who needs Alzheimer’s Care but doesn’t have it may experience significant weight loss because he can no longer shop or cook. The person might not be able to manage medications, pay bills, or keep appointments. And, there can be life-threatening risks related to driving with cognitive and sensory impairments, taking too little or too much medication, or forgetting to turn off a stove.

When a client’s suffering from Alzheimer’s went from early- to late-stage almost overnight after suffering a hip fracture, her family quickly realized they needed help caring for her. Her husband had been taking care of her at home, but the family quickly needed to incorporate about 50 hours of home help.

Expense is another factor in determining when and what level of Alzheimer’s Care is needed. “We’ve found Home Care that comes close to being 24/7 isn’t just more comfortable for my mother, it’s less expensive than a nursing home would be,” noted the family.

Degrees of Care

It is very important to select the right level of care for the situation, while anticipating the progression of the disease. A person with early dementia who recognizes his or her deficits might be able to remain in their home and community with family support, care management, and Home Care. If the individual is resistant to accepting support, the situation might unfortunately have to worsen before a significant change can be made.

Keeping in mind that Alzheimer’s patients require the same kind of care as any patient with a progressive, deteriorating illness, and they also need help with all activities of daily living. Intervention should match the level of need and be introduced gradually. This is often easier to accomplish in a home setting.

Our client’s family noted that someday, their mother might no longer be able to remain at home. But, while she can walk, talk and somewhat respond to basic directions necessary to care for her, we’ll stick with home care to help her maintain as much of her old life as we can.

Although she may not know she’s lived in this apartment for more than 30 years, when she holds our hands and looks us in the eyes, she knows she’s with someone who loves and cares about her.

How do I go about finding a caregiver for my parent who has Alzheimer’s?

Approved In Home Care provides care to seniors, please contact us at 972-658-4001.

Approved In Home Care provides care to seniors and the elderly. We work with individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and other senior related conditions and diseases. For help or more information, please contact us at 972-658-4001.