How Living Assistance Services Can Change When a Loved One Has Dementia
At Visiting Angels, we offer specialized in-home dementia care to seniors in Littleton, CO and surrounding areas. Here’s how we tailor our living assistance services to seniors who have Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other forms of dementia
Contrary to popular belief, Alzheimer’s and dementia are not the terms used to describe the same condition. In fact, dementia is not a disease at all, but a term that speaks in a general way to memory loss and a decline in cognitive abilities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia today. Other forms of dementia include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, mixed dementia, Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus and Huntington's disease. Seniors who are diagnosed with dementia struggle with cognitive decline and disrupted daily life.
If you are worried that your loved one has dementia, schedule an appointment with a medical professional as soon as possible. In case they have dementia, keep in mind that living assistance services from Visiting Angels Littleton can help them age independently at home and achieve a higher quality of life.
Is It Actually Dementia?
Just because your parent forgets things sometimes, doesn’t mean they have dementia. It is important to remember that some conditions have dementia-like symptoms, such as urinary tract infections, depression, vitamin deficiencies and thyroid problems. Therefore, before you start looking into memory care options, take your parent to their doctor and see what you are really dealing with.
Getting a Diagnosis, Directing Care Decisions
If your parent has been diagnosed with a type of dementia, it is highly important to know which one. This fact can affect your future caregiving decisions and completely change your parent’s care plan. If they have Parkinson’s, they will deal with gait and balance issues, so mobility assistance needs to be a part of the senior care services they receive. On the other hand, seniors with Alzheimer’s maintain physical abilities even after the cognitive decline has begun.
Different Dementias, Different Living Assistance Services
Nowadays, seniors with Alzheimer’s and other dementias have a variety of care options to choose from. If your parent has a type of dementia, moving them to a nursing home, an assisted living facility, a memory care community or hiring hospice care are all good options. However, if your loved one wishes to age at home and remain in comfortable and safe surroundings for as long as possible, hiring living assistance services might be your best choice. At Visiting Angels, we offer high-quality senior care services and dementia care to older adults living in Littleton and surrounding communities.
What Type of Alzheimer’s or Dementia Care is Best?
When looking for a caregiver for your loved one, make sure they are skilled, trained, compassionate and experienced in delivering dementia care. At Visiting Angels Littleton, we are proud to offer one-on-one care, a person-centered approach to dementia care, professional caregivers, high-quality solutions and affordable hourly rates.
If you wish to learn more about living assistance services we deliver in Littleton, CO and surrounding areas, call our office today.