How To Care For Alzheimer Patients At Home

Decide On Future Financial And Medical Plans With The Patient

It is important to get clarity on how to cope as time progresses and the dementia worsens. You should have clear plans worked out on who will manage the banking and financial affairs of the individual. Share your number with the utility company, informing them of the condition of your loved one, so that power supply or heating isnt cut off if they forget to pay their bills. Also do the difficult task of discussing which medical treatments they would prefer not to be subjected to, should the need arise at a future date.15 This legal document is known as an advance care directive and details what health decisions can be made on their behalf if they are no longer capable of doing so.16

Tips For Home Safety For People With Dementia

As a caregiver or family member to a person with Alzheimers or related dementias, you can take steps to make the home a safer place. Removing hazards and adding safety features around the home can help give the person more freedom to move around independently and safely. Try these tips:

• If you have stairs, make sure there is at least one handrail. Put carpet or safety grip strips on stairs, or mark the edges of steps with brightly colored tape so they are more visible.
• Insert safety plugs into unused electrical outlets and consider safety latches on cabinet doors.
• Clear away unused items and remove small rugs, electrical cords, and other items the person may trip over.
• Make sure all rooms and outdoor areas the person visits have good lighting.
• Remove curtains and rugs with busy patterns that may confuse the person.
• Remove or lock up cleaning and household products, such as paint thinner and matches.

How To Care For Alzheimers Patients At Home

Taking care of Alzheimers patients requires a lot of patience, diligence, effort, and flexibility. This is because they become more apathy and aggressive as the disease progresses. You have to know that, this is not who they are, the disease has impaired their ability to properly react or act. However, these tips and ideas would help to deal with frustration that you might encounter when dealing with them, or just giving taking care of them

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Best Activities For Alzheimers Patients At Home

Blog » Memory Care » 15 Best Activities for Alzheimers Patients at Home

Sudoku, sewing, gardening, or something completely different finding the best activities for Alzheimers patients at home is important if a loved one has a memory illness. While truly meaningful activities for dementia patients can be tough to find, they are out there, and worth hunting for!

Having mentally and emotionally appropriate and stimulating activities is crucial for two reasons. One, it can be fun and two, it may slow the progress of memory illnesses. Since planning activities for dementia or Alzheimers patients is a part of our memory care services, we have compiled dozens of tried-and-true ideas you can use today.

Even better, all of these activities are inexpensive, uncomplicated, and can be done right at home. Check out our list of 15 great activities for dementia and Alzheimers patients at home.

The Benefits Of Senior Home Care For Alzheimers Patients

While most people with Alzheimers are over the age of 65, Alzheimers isnt a normal part of getting older and shouldnt be treated as such.

It is the most common form of dementia, and Alzheimers accounts for 60 to 80 percent of all dementia cases. This disease has no current cure and worsens over time, but there are things you can do to help a loved one who suffers from it lead the most normal life they can. The best way to help a loved one with Alzheimers is to get them senior home care in Plano. Here are the top 5 reasons why in-home care is so essential for those suffering from Alzheimers and how it improves their quality of life.

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How To Create A Checklist And Daily Care Plan For Dementia

Caring for a parent or senior loved one with dementia involves many skills, such as providing daily caregiving tasks, household management and participating in decision-making. With so much to do and so little time, establishing a daily care plan can help caregivers spend more meaningful time on productive activities with loved ones with dementia.

Learn more about how to create a checklist and daily care plan for dementia during this time.

Caring For Alzheimers Patients In The Home

Like most families battling Alzheimers, you wish for your loved one to remain at home for as long as possible.

We understand. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities may not be capable of providing the dignity and comfort that comes with in-home care. But caring for a loved one with Alzheimers isnt something you should attempt on your own, especially if you cant guarantee theyll never be alone.

Thats because Alzheimers patients face some unique risks and dangers that cant be mitigated without in-home caregivers. As they become less able to manage simple household tasks, for example, they may forget to turn off the oven, how to dial 911, or when and how to take their medications.

People with Alzheimers are also prone to wandering and may get lost if they venture out on their own. They are also vulnerable to bouts of agitation and aggression that can become severe in the absence of a caregiver with experience soothing a distressed dementia patient.

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If You’re Struggling To Cope

Carers often find it difficult to talk about the stress involved with caring. If you feel like you’re not managing, don’t feel guilty. There’s help and support available.

You may benefit from counselling or another talking therapy, which may be available online.

Talk to your GP or if you prefer, you can refer yourself directly to a psychological therapies service.

Recognize Triggers For Difficult Behavior And Stay Calm

If the delusions someone with dementia experiences are severe and may put them or you, the caregiver, at possible risk or harm, it is best to speak to a doctor to see if some medication may be needed.6

A person with dementia can be susceptible to depression, anxiety, agitation, hallucinations, aggression, and loss of inhibition.7 While anxiety and depression issues may need to be dealt with the help of a trained mental health professional, the other behavior may have to be managed by you. You can cope with difficult behavior like aggression by:8

• Identifying triggers for the behavior to see if they can be fixed. Pain can often be the cause for the unusual behavior.
• Staying calm.
• Not taking the behavior personally. It is not directed at you, but just an expression of the emotions or confusion the patient is experiencing. This may be especially hard to do if the dementia has made them suspicious and theyre accusing you of things like theft, infidelity, or inappropriate behavior.
• Avoiding arguments and confrontation.
• Accepting this as a symptom of the illness as you would any other symptom of a disease.

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Counseling From A Mental Health Or Social Work Professional

Mental health or social work professionals help you understand your feelings, such as anger, sadness, or feeling out of control and overwhelmed, and help you deal with any stress you may be feeling. They also help develop plans for unexpected or sudden events.

What to know about costs:

• Professional mental health counselors charge by the hour. There may be big differences in the rates you would be charged from one counselor to another.
• Some insurance companies will cover some of these costs.
• Medicare or Medicaid may cover some of these costs.
• You must pay all costs not covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or insurance.

How to find them:

• It’s a good idea to ask your health insurance staff which counselors and services, if any, your insurance plan covers. Then check with your doctor, local family service agencies, and community mental health agencies for referrals to counselors.

Dementia Care At Home: A Step

As the disease progresses, so will the needs of your loved one. You can care for the physical needs of your loved one by closely coordinating care with his or her physician. Just as important is your ability to remain a caregiver for the long term. Having a strong care team by your side can make this easier.

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Home Health Care Services

Home health care aides are skilled, licensed medical professionals who come to your home and help you recover from a hospital stay, illness, or injury. Aides provide skilled nursing care, physical, occupational, or speech therapy, and other medical services coordinated by your doctor. You need a doctors order for home health care services.

What to know about costs:

• Medicare or private health insurance may cover skilled medical care services in your home. Check with your insurer before signing an agreement.
• You must pay all costs not covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or insurance.

How to find them:

• Your doctor, health care professional, or hospital discharge social worker can give you a list of agencies that serve your area.

For more information about home-based long-term care, visit What Is Long-Term Care?

Help Them Keep Their Animal Companion

There are many benefits to having a pet for older people. Cats, dogs, and other animals can provide continuing love and companionship for someone with Alzheimers. For those in the early stages, taking care of a pet can help them keep active.

If it becomes more difficult for the person to care for their pet, people can consider ways to keep them together. This may mean asking a neighbor or community member to take a dog for walks or ensure a cat receives its food on time.

Some organizations, such as Meals on Wheels America, may also be able to deliver pet food. Look for local charities that provide dog walking, cat sitting, and temporary fostering services for older adults with health conditions.

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Who Makes The Decision

In some cases the person with dementia will be able to decide for themselves whether or not they need to move into a care home. If this is the case, then they should make their own decision and be offered any help they need to do so. However, often by the time the person with dementia needs the level of care that a care home provides, they have lost the ability to make this decision for themselves.

If the person is not able to make this decision, someone else will need to make this decision for them. This would usually be the persons attorney under a health and welfare Lasting power of attorney, or their personal welfare deputy, if they have one. Any attorney or deputy must make decisions in the best interests of the person. An attorney or deputy for property and financial affairs is often able to make this decision for the person with dementia. This is because they have the legal power to arrange the finances to pay for this care. However, professionals or members of the persons family can challenge this decision.

For more about mental capacity in England and Wales, and how to know if someone is able to make decisions for themselves, see our page on the Mental Capacity Act. For more information on attorneys and deputies see Lasting power of attorney and Becoming a deputy for a person with dementia.

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Communicate Patiently Slowly And Clearly

Use physical touch to help communicate. For instance, if a person with dementia is having a hallucination, a gentle pat from you might draw them back to reality and out of their frightening hallucination.4 Sometimes holding hands, touching, hugging, and praise will get the person to respond when all else fails.

Communication or more specifically failed communication can be the crux of problems for many caregivers. Weve whittled it down to some of the key aspects that you could focus on to make it easy for you and the person with dementia:5

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Home Safety Checklist For Alzheimer’s Disease

Use the following room-by-room checklist to alert you to potential hazards and to record any changes you need to make to help keep a person with Alzheimers disease safe. You can buy products or gadgets necessary for home safety at stores carrying hardware, electronics, medical supplies, and children’s items.

Keep in mind that it may not be necessary to make all of the suggested changes. This article covers a wide range of safety concerns that may arise, and some modifications may never be needed. It is important, however, to re-evaluate home safety periodically as behavior and abilities change.

Great Activities For Dementia Or Alzheimers Patients At Home

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Be A Realistic Caregiver

Be realistic about what constitutes success during the progression of the disease. Success is helping to assure that the person you are caring for is as comfortable, happy and safe as possible. Most experienced dementia caregivers will tell you that the person they care for has good days and bad days. Try your best to foster the good days and even the good moments for the person with dementia, dont try to force them. Also, be realistic about the course of the disease. Remember that most types of dementia, including Alzheimers, are irreversible and progressive. Dementia will tend to get worse over time and there is no known cure.

Be Flexible With Alzheimers Care

As symptoms progress, you will need to make changes in how you provide care for a loved one with Alzheimers. This may include choosing easy-to-swallow foods, buying simpler outfits and modifying schedules. Being nimble can help you as the caregiver to react with ease. If you can roll with the punches instead of becoming frustrated, the patient is likely to feel more at ease too.

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Create A Safe Living Space

Having Alzheimer’s raises the chance of injury. Take a close look at your living space, especially areas with dangerous items. To stay safe:

• Avoid falls. Pick up clutter. Install handrails or grab bars in areas where your loved one might fall.
• Lock up. Use locks on cabinets with medicine, alcohol, guns, cleaning products, tools, or sharp things.
• Ensure fire safety. Put matches and lighters away, and keep a fire extinguisher handy.

Specialist Care Within The Comfort Of Your Home

There are many different types of dementia, however Alzheimers is the most common form and the one that we asked to support with the most. It affects more than half a million people in the UK alone. Alzheimers is a progressive condition, with time leaving the people and families affected needing extra help and care. At Helping Hands, we believe in and see the benefits of allowing someone with Alzheimers to remain in their own home. The continuity of routine, familiarity of environment and one to one attention from a specialist dementia carer can make a huge difference to quality of life.

Our professional carers either visit at agreed times or move into the homes of their customers to provide personal care, housekeeping, companionship and support thats specially tailored to the needs of the individual.

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Tips For A Healthy And Active Lifestyle For People With Dementia

Eating healthy and staying active is good for everyone and is especially important for people with Alzheimers and related dementias. As the disease progresses, finding ways for the person to eat healthy foods and stay active may be increasingly challenging. Here are some tips that may help:

• Consider different activities the person can do to stay active, such as household chores, cooking and baking, exercise, and gardening. Match the activity to what the person can do.
• Help get an activity started or join in to make the activity more fun. People with dementia may lack interest or initiative and can have trouble starting activities. But, if others do the planning, they may join in.
• Add music to exercises or activities if it helps motivate the person. Dance to the music if possible.
• Be realistic about how much activity can be done at one time. Several short mini-workouts may be best.
• Take a walk together each day. Exercise is good for caregivers, too!
• Buy a variety of healthy foods, but consider food that is easy to prepare, such as premade salads and single portions.
• Give the person choices about what to eat, for example, Would you like yogurt or cottage cheese?