How In-Home Senior Care Can Change When a Loved One Has Dementia
Visiting Angels has been providing dependable dementia care for older adults in Aspen Hill, Silver Spring, Bethesda, Laurel and surrounding Maryland communities for many years. Here’s how your loved one’s senior care needs can change if they’ve been diagnosed
Most people use the words Alzheimer’s and dementia interchangeably. However, these terms do not describe the same health condition. In fact, dementia is a term that speaks in a general way to memory loss and changes in cognitive abilities, while Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia. Other types of dementia include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), mixed dementia, Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus, Huntington's disease and Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome.
Although dementia is associated with memory loss, with quality senior care from Visiting Angels of Aspen Hill, older adults who have been diagnosed with this illness can age comfortably at home.
Is It Actually Dementia?
When a senior loved one starts forgetting things, like what day it is or where they left their keys, it is normal to worry that they might have dementia. However, it is important to remember that there are other health issues with similar symptoms, like urinary tract infections (UTIs), vitamin deficiencies and thyroid problems.
Getting a Diagnosis, Directing Care Decisions
Detecting which type of dementia a loved one has can be difficult, but getting an accurate diagnosis is important for future elder care decisions. Different types of dementia have different symptoms, and seniors with different diagnoses do not need the same type of care. For example, an older adult who is diagnosed with Parkinson’s dementia will struggle with balance issues and therefore will need mobility assistance besides memory care.
Different Dementias, Different Senior Care Options
Nowadays there are millions of seniors dealing with dementia and Alzheimer’s, so it is not at all surprising that the number of dementia care options is on the rise. When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, moving them to a senior living community, a stand-alone memory care community, a nursing home or an adult day facility are all viable options. However, if your parent wishes to age at home for as long as possible, hiring in-home care services from Visiting Angels of Aspen Hill can be the best option. This way your loved one will receive the level of care they need right at home where they feel safe and comfortable.
What Type of Alzheimer’s or Dementia Care Should I Look For?
When looking for a home care agency for your loved one, make sure to focus on personalized care plans, a person-centered approach, skilled, trained and experienced caregivers and affordable hourly rates.
At Visiting Angels of Aspen Hill, we offer professional senior care services. Call our office today and find out how we can help your aging loved one.