How to Prepare for Mid-Stage and Late-Stage Alzheimer's Care in Jenkintown, PA
Planning ahead for living assistance services is important when a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Here's what you need to know when looking into Alzheimer's care options for mid and late-stage Alzheimer's in Jenkintown, Abington, Ambler, Horsham, Hatboro, Philadelphia and surrounding areas in Eastern Montgomery County, PA
When a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, you need to focus on their immediate needs. From that perspective, making plans and preparations for mid-stage and late-stage Alzheimer's care may seem premature, but due to the progressive nature of the condition, planning ahead can help you cope with the situation more adequately while providing better care for your loved one and yourself.
What to Expect with Mid-Stage and Late-Stage Alzheimer's Disease
During the early stages of Alzheimer's, symptoms start to become more noticeable, but they still don't affect one's quality of life too much. Your parent can occasionally become forgetful or they may need more assistance with tasks they used to perform independently just a while back. This stage usually lasts from 1 to 2 years, during which your loved one can take care of themselves independently. Unfortunately, in the mid and late stages, it all changes for the worse.
Mid-Stage Alzheimer's
As Alzheimer's reaches its mid-stage, your mom or dad will struggle to function independently. This means their memory and cognitive abilities will gradually start to fade. During this interim period, your parent will have to rely heavily on living assistance services from family or professionals in order to be able to continue aging at home. Mid-stage Alzheimer's can last from 2 to 4 years.
Late-Stage Alzheimer's
When the disease advances into its later stage, a phase which typically lasts up to two years, the afflicted individual will lose short-term and long-term memory functions, becoming totally dependent on others for living assistance services. Given the volume of care required in this stage, most families tend to rely on full-time, professional home care agencies or move their loved one to a facility of their choice.
Plan Ahead for Living Assistance Services for the Later Stages of Alzheimer's Disease
Planning care for your loved one with Alzheimer's takes time, it can't be all done at once if you want to do things properly. Rather than preparing for the later stages all in one go, consider making your plans periodically, one step at a time. Here's how:
- Know what to expect for your loved one and yourself – Learn all you can about mid-stage and late-stage Alzheimer's disease and how to make your parent secure and comfortable. As your loved one's condition will surely have a far-reaching effect on your quality of life too, also make sure to educate yourself on what to expect as a family caregiver to make it more manageable.
- Consider your financial situation – Providing care for a loved one in the later stages of Alzheimer's is certainly not cheap, so explore all your financing options before you actually need them.
- Learn more about Alzheimer's care strategies – Seek advice from experienced professionals and learn more about caregiving strategies and how to tackle certain situations.
- Create your support system – Caring for a parent or relative with Alzheimer's can take a heavy toll on your well-being and leave you overexerted and overwhelmed. You can prevent this burnout by developing a support network consisting of family, close friends, and experts from living assistance services.
- Research local Alzheimer's care options – Most family caregivers often have a hard time keeping up with their parent's arising care needs in the late stages of the disease. In the majority of cases, it comes down to just two options – hiring a professional who can share the workload at home or placing a loved one into facilitated care. Whatever you choose, it will be much easier to make the right decision if you already know every care option in your area.
If you need help, Visiting Angels Jenkintown can provide quality living assistance services and cater to your loved one's needs at any stage of their condition. Reach out to our office today to learn more.
Visiting Angels provides quality Alzheimer's care and other home care services to seniors throughout Jenkintown, Abington, Ambler, Huntingdon Valley, Lafayette Hill, Horsham, Lower Gwynedd, Hatboro, Philadelphia and throughout Eastern Montgomery County, PA.