Preparing for Mid-Stage and Late-Stage Alzheimer’s Care in Littleton, CO
Visiting Angels can help you understand your options for mid and late-stage Alzheimer's care in Littleton, CO
If your parent has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, their life will inevitably change. Although during the early stage your loved one will be able to care for themselves, they will require extensive Alzheimer's care in order to stay safe and sound as the disease progresses.
Preparing for mid-stage and late-stage Alzheimer's disease maybe seems overwhelming and you might believe that focusing on your senior loved one's current needs is more important. However, preparing yourself for these stages on time will make things easier later on and will improve the quality of life for you and your parent.
What to Expect with Mid-Stage and Late-Stage Alzheimer's
In the early stages of Alzheimer's, symptoms of the disease are barely noticeable and most seniors are able to care for themselves during this time. Your loved one may experience rare memory lapses and they may need help with certain everyday tasks.
Mid-Stage Alzheimer's Disease
In this stage that lasts from two to four years, senior's memory and cognitive abilities significantly decrease and they start to depend on Alzheimer's care from loved ones or professional caregivers. You can expect that your parent might experience severe memory lapses and will need assistance with daily tasks such as bathing and dressing. They might also have trouble remembering the current time and place and suffer from decreased hand-eye coordination.
Late-Stage Alzheimer's Disease
Late-stage Alzheimer's is when seniors often lose language abilities completely and dependent on others for care and support. During this stage, your loved one can suffer from short-term and long-term memory loss, lose their ability to walk, sit, and swallow and become prone to infections. In this stage, families usually hire round-the-clock care or move their loved one to a nursing home.
Alzheimer's Care: How to Plan Ahead for Later Stages
Keep in mind that preparing for care options for mid-stage and late-stage Alzheimer's requires time and cannot be done in a day. First of all, you will need to educate yourself about what to expect and what types of care duties will need to be performed. When you have found the best way to keep your parent comfortable, safe, and secure make sure you educate yourself about what to expect as a family caregiver. There are many challenges you will need to face and it is better to prepare for them on time. Also, professional care for seniors with Alzheimer's can be expensive, so go over your finances and see how you can afford home care or nursing care.
Keep in mind that taking care of your loved one may completely drain you, so make sure you have a strong support network. Your friends, family or even senior care professionals can be there for you when you need to recharge your batteries. The most important thing is that you know that you don't have to do everything on your own.
Contact Visiting Angels today and learn about the Alzheimer's care services we offer in Littleton, CO.