When a family member is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia, it is important to create an appropriate care strategy.
Adult children, loved ones, and other potential caregivers can all be affected, and some serious decisions need to be made.
At Assisting Hands Home Care, we offer Alzheimer’s and dementia care services to help families in Westmont, IL, and the surrounding areas through this process.
Our caregivers provide assistance in the home of the individual struggling with memory loss which can help decrease their anxiety and make things easier for family members.
Recognizing Symptoms of Memory Loss and Addressing Them
Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia often begin gradually, but progress steadily over the years. By recognizing symptoms early and developing an appropriate care plan, life for everyone involved can be made easier.
For example, Alzheimer’s patients can struggle with stamina, problem solving, and other key skills that are required to navigate life safely. Through our services and expertise, we will not only keep them safe, but provide daily care and assistance so that you do not need to. It is most beneficial to develop a plan while communication is still effective.
Before we begin our care, we will meet with family members to determine what exactly is needed. Our services vary from person to person, but typically address some combination of the following:
- Wandering: Perhaps the greatest benefit of our in-home caregiving services is safety. Individuals suffering from memory loss frequently wander around and fail to recognize the situation. If the room is dark or cluttered, or the individual is fatigued, an accident can easily follow. Our caregivers will standby to prevent accidents from occurring, lock exists to keep your loved one from accidentally leaving the home, and ensure stove tops and sinks are shut off (among other things).
- Companionship: Mental stimulation and socialization are key elements of any effective memory care services. Regular communication can improve the individual’s mood and combat the effects of memory loss to an extent. Our compassionate, one-on-one care can mitigate confusion and frustration, especially during difficult times of day such as the night.
- Nutrition: Skipped meals are a major problem for individuals struggling with dementia. Operating cooking equipment can also be very dangerous for them. Our caregivers can provide daily meal preparation services to eliminate these risks.
- Medication: Dementia patients often forget to take important medication. Industry data shows that medication non-adherence is responsible for up to 33% to 69% of medication-related hospital admissions. Our caregivers will ensure that your loved one takes the proper dosages of required medication at prescribed times. We can also monitor prescription refills.
How to Utilize Our Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Services
We are happy to help you and your loved one through this difficult time and provide you with a better understanding of what to expect. We offer our services to families in need in the Westmont, IL, area.
