In-Home Dementia Care Services in Asheville, NC
Dementia encompasses a range of conditions that affect cognitive abilities. Those affected by dementia may exhibit symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, compromised reasoning, impaired language skills, and disorientation regarding time and location. Due to its progressive nature, individuals with dementia gradually lose their capacity for independent living, necessitating specialized care aimed at helping them maintain functionality while preserving as much independence as possible.
What Is In-Home Dementia Care?
In-home dementia care is a specialized support system designed to cater to the unique needs of individuals living with dementia. Rather than a clinical setting, it delivers support services to the care recipient's home, allowing them to enjoy the physical and emotional comforts of a familiar environment. Though it can provide support at any stage of progression, you would usually initiate dementia care at the point of moderate decline or later, when your loved one begins to experience difficulty with their daily activities.
At Visiting Angels of Asheville, our dementia care services have helped Asheville area seniors living with various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. For every client, we create a one-of-a-kind care plan tailored to the individual's condition, needs, and preferences. By personalizing our care, we're able to ensure that your loved one's care is consistent with both their diagnosis and their lifestyle.
Is Dementia Care the Same as Memory Care?
Dementia care differs from memory care in its objectives and level of care. Your family might seek dementia care when a loved one reaches the advanced stages of dementia, when they require continuous monitoring and assistance with daily activities due to increased difficulties. On the other hand, memory care is often more of an early intervention for a loved one who's beginning to show signs of memory loss, whether or not dementia is the cause. So, dementia care primarily emphasizes safety and comfort, while memory care aims to slow the progression of cognitive impairment.
What Does an In-Home Dementia Caregiver Do?
In-home dementia caregivers perform an array of services to ensure their clients' well-being, though specific activities can vary depending on an individual's wishes and specific diagnosis. Also, because dementia commonly involves not only cognitive changes but also physical and behavioral ones, an important component of dementia care is to provide mental stimulation in addition to a secure environment.
To that end, our caregivers at Visiting Angels of Asheville encourage seniors to enjoy activities that help keep their minds strong, whether that's solving puzzles, playing games, reading, or just having an engaging chat. In addition, they're trained in a wide range of professional services that include:
- Wandering prevention.
- Client monitoring.
- Transition and mobility assistance.
- Transportation assistance.
- Fall prevention and safety.
- Grocery shopping.
- Meal preparation.
- Bathing and dressing.
- Household organization.
- Light housekeeping.
- Reminders to take medication.
- Reminders to complete important tasks.
- Companionship and emotional support.
We strive to stand out with our dementia care service by personalizing it to the needs of your loved one. When we work with your family, one of our first goals is to understand how we can create a more supportive environment for your loved one in need. Because dementia is a progressive disorder, the care plan we develop is customizable throughout our relationship, allowing you to add, remove, or adjust service items as needed or wanted. That way, our care remains relevant to your loved one's evolving requirements.
What Are the Benefits of In-Home Dementia Care?
With in-home dementia care, your loved one can continue to enjoy an environment that's familiar and meaningful to them — their home. Familiarity can help reduce confusion and even benefit certain physical or emotional symptoms by fostering routines. Furthermore, for your family, being able to visit a cozy and familiar setting can enhance the comfort and serenity necessary to help your loved one feel calmer and more at ease.
Also, in-home dementia caregivers are devoted to keeping their clients safe and well provided for. Visiting Angels caregivers make a point of understanding their client's exact needs and preferences so you can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that your loved one is in good, compassionate hands.
How Can You Help Prepare Your Loved One's Home for Dementia Care?
As a family member, you can help prepare your loved one's home for dementia care in the following ways:
- Provide good lighting: Adequate lighting offers good color definition, makes contrast more visible, and reduces glare. This helps your loved one more easily identify spaces and perform daily activities, which helps their caretaker support them in doing the same.
- Remove fall hazards: Eliminating clutter and securing loose rugs, long cables, and certain furniture placements can help your loved one better manage their disorientation and physical changes.
- Provide assistive devices: These include grab bars in the bathtub, grip tape for stairs, and high-contrast tableware, which can prevent injuries or provide further assistance with disorientation and spatial awareness.
- Have designated areas for common items: By placing items such as keys and mail in the same place every time, your loved one benefits from a dependable routine. Also, their caretaker will know where to find these items should your loved one have trouble remembering.
- Label drawers, cupboards, and other areas that may lead to confusion: Use both words and images on your labels so they're easily understandable. These labels can serve as aids to the caregiver, too, who may need help to become familiar with the home's layout.
- Write down your loved one's daily routine: This serves as a reminder to both your loved one and their caretaker.
In-Home Care for Other Neurodegenerative Diseases
In addition to our specialized dementia care services, Visiting Angels of Asheville extends our expertise to individuals living with other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, and Multiple Sclerosis. While these conditions differ from dementia, they similarly require a blend of patience, understanding, and specialized care. Our approach is centered on adapting to the varied and complex needs of each disease, ensuring that every individual receives compassionate, personalized care. We focus on enhancing daily living, managing symptoms effectively, and providing emotional and physical support to improve the overall quality of life for our clients at home.
Learn More About In-Home Dementia Care in Asheville with Visiting Angels
Upon the diagnosis of a loved one with dementia, caregiving responsibilities often fall on the family; however, the individual's care needs often exceed the family's ability to provide. If your family is facing a similar challenge, we encourage you to reach out to us for a free phone consultation by texting or calling 828-665-3944 or filling out our online contact form. We'll strive to understand your loved one's unique requirements so we can design a compassionate care plan that's entirely personalized to them.
If you have a parent or loved one diagnosed with dementia, call Visiting Angels Asheville today and ask how we can help.
Serving Asheville, Hendersonville, Black Mountain, Weaverville, Waynesville, and the Surrounding Areas
Visiting Angels ASHEVILLE, NC
24 Sardis Rd #H-IAsheville, NC 28806
Phone: 828-665-3944
Fax: 866-305-3446