Provident Care Home Care provides a broad range of specialized home care services. Our care team has the expertise and experience in assisting families dealing with memory loss issues, hospice care and other conditions that require more intensive one-on-one assistance.
Alzheimer’s Care at Home
If you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s, trying to decide what’s best for them can be difficult. As the disease progresses, you may struggle to care for them and keep them safe all by yourself. That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to put them in a facility, though. Alzheimer’s care at home may be a better option.
Can a person with Alzheimer’s live at home? How long can a person with Alzheimer’s live at home? How do you care for an Alzheimer’s patient at home? How do you know if your loved one needs Alzheimer’s care at home? Read on for answers to these questions and more information about Alzheimer’s care at home.
Can a Person With Alzheimer's Live at Home?
Yes.
“Many people with Alzheimer's continue to live successfully on their own during the early stage of the disease…Alzheimer's will eventually limit your own insights as to what you can safely do…Arrange for someone to help you with housekeeping, meals, transportation, and daily chores.”
-According to the Alzheimer’s Association [1]:
How Long Can a Person With Alzheimer’s Disease Live at Home?
With the proper amount of in-home care, a person with Alzheimer’s disease may be able to live at home for the rest of their lives. As the disease progresses and their needs change, they will need increasing amounts of care, but they may be able to receive that care at home (short of other health issues putting them in the hospital).
Even if your loved one with Alzheimer’s can no longer live alone, they can still live at home with assistance. Alzheimer’s care at home is available as much as 24 hours a day to keep your loved one safe.
How Do You Care for an Alzheimer's Patient at Home?
Caring for Alzheimer’s patients at home is about reducing their frustration, ensuring all their needs are being met, and keeping them safe. Some ways to do that include [2]:
- Establish a daily routine
- Prevent falls
- Medication reminders
- Manage moments of anxiety, confusion, and anger
- Let them do as much as possible with the least amount of assistance
- Use locks
- Laundry and light housekeeping
- Prevent wandering
- Provide some, but not too many, choices
- Grocery shopping and prescription pickups
- Check water temperature
- Assistance with bathing, grooming, and toileting
- Reduce distractions
- Take fire safety precautions
- Limit napping
- Meal planning and preparation
- Provide simple instructions
- Be flexible
-With the proper amount of in-home care, a person with Alzheimer’s disease may be able to live at home for the rest of their lives.
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Is There Home Care for Dementia Patients?
Yes. Alzheimer’s is one type of dementia, and there is home care available for all types of dementia patients.
What Types of Services Are Included With Alzheimer’s Care at Home?
Common types of in-home services included with Alzheimer’s care at home are[3]:
- Companion services: Assistance with visiting, supervision, or recreational activities.
- Homemaker services: Help with shopping, housekeeping, or meal preparation.
- Personal care services: Assistance with dressing, bathing, toileting, exercising, eating, or other personal care.
- Skilled care: Help with physical therapy, injections, wound care, and other medical needs by a licensed health professional.
Don’t underestimate the importance of companion services. Wandering is a serious risk for Alzheimer’s patients, and loneliness is problematic, too.
“Loneliness and social isolation in older adults are serious public health risks affecting a significant number of people in the United States and putting them at risk for…serious medical conditions…Social isolation significantly increased a person’s risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.”
-According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [4]:
How Can I Find a Good Agency for Alzheimer’s Care at Home?
Finding somebody to care for your loved one with Alzheimer’s at home may seem like a daunting task. Here are some questions to ask as you check out agencies to find the perfect fit [5]:
- Is your agency licensed?
- Do you do background checks and check driving records?
- Are your caregivers bonded and insured?
- Do you screen caregivers for contagious diseases?
- Do you have references for your agency and caregivers?
- Can we interview potential caregivers? Do we have a say in who is assigned to us?
- Will we have the same caregiver each visit?
- What is the turnover rate for your caregivers?
- How do you supervise caregivers?
- If I have a complaint about a caregiver, how do you handle it?
- What educational requirements do your caregivers need?
- What happens if our caregiver can’t make it?
- What are the service agreement terms?
Caring for a parent with dementia at home can be stressful, but you don’t have to do it alone. Contact us today for help finding the right caregiver for your loved one with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
How Do I Know if My Loved One Needs Alzheimer’s Care at Home?
While it’s never too early to get your loved one with Alzheimer’s care at home, here are some signs that they would benefit from it:
- Friends or family members have commented on changes in their appearance or behavior.
- Your loved one seems nervous or withdrawn.
- They have started wandering.
- Your loved one is aggressive or agitated.
- They seem to be struggling to maintain their hygiene.
- You can’t be sure they’re taking their medication properly.
- You worry about their living conditions being safe and healthy.
- You’re experiencing caregiver burnout.
- Your loved one isn’t eating properly and has gained or lost weight or their health is worsened.
- You worry that your loved one isn’t safe when they’re left alone.
References
- Alzheimer’s Association, If You Live Alone, https://www.alz.org/help-support/i-have-alz/know-what-to-expect/if_you_live_alone
- Mayo Clinic, Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care: Tips for Daily Tasks, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/caregivers/in-depth/alzheimers-caregiver/art-20047577
- Alzheimer’s Association, In-Home Care, https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/care-options/in-home-care
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions, https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/lonely-older-adults.html
- WebMD, Help With In-Home Care for Someone With Alzheimer’s, https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/alzheimers-paid-home-care