What You Need To Know About Home Care For Patients With Dementia

Though dementia starts slowly, over time, the effects will interfere with your loved one's ability to complete the activities of daily life. It's common for individuals with dementia to forget to complete basic tasks, like taking their medication, bathing, or tending to household chores. If your loved one suffers from dementia, hiring a home care service is one way to provide them with the assistance that they need.  Check out a couple of ways that using home care will benefit your entire family. 

You Can Customize the Care to Your Loved One's Needs

How much assistance your loved one requires depends on the current stage of their dementia. Those with early-stage dementia are fairly independent; they can still take care of bathing, grooming, and dressing themselves.

You may wish to start in-home care to ensure that your loved one has a second set of eyes to assist with their medication schedule or help them remember what tasks they need to complete each day. Utilizing in-home care at this point can also assist with getting your loved one used to the idea of home care. Your aide can also encourage your loved one to participate in daily activities that help preserve their memories.

As dementia progresses, the home care aide can assist with the activities of daily living. The aide will make sure that your loved one receives healthy meals and snacks and has access to water and other beverages. By the middle stage of dementia, it's common for patients to experience confusion and agitation due to their memory loss. Your care provider will be there for your loved one when they experience these feelings to make sure they don't inadvertently hurt themselves.

Patients with late-stage dementia require around-the-clock care. They may be confused about current and past events, struggle to communicate, and be unable to identify faces. 

In-Home Care is Less Stressful for Your Loved One Than Moving

Though a nursing home or assisted living facility are viable alternatives to provide your loved one with the proper care, the process of moving your loved one out of their home and into a new environment is a stressful experience for everyone involved. You may feel overwhelmed trying to help your loved one adapt to their new surroundings, while your loved one may experience confusion and anxiety over their new surroundings.

Many patients with dementia are comforted by familiar surroundings. Keeping your loved one in their own home is a way to reduce the emotional distress and heightened feelings associated with dementia. Contact a clinic like Elkview General Hospital that offers home care for more information. 


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