How Elderly Home Care Needs Change with a Dementia Diagnosis
If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, here is what you need to consider when researching elderly home care options in McKinney, Allen, Plano, Frisco and surrounding areas in Collin County, TX
Considering how often the term dementia is used to describe memory loss and cognitive decline, it comes as no surprise that many people assume it is one illness. However, dementia is actually an umbrella term that is used to describe the loss of mental functions. There are many different types of dementia and the most common one is Alzheimer’s disease.
It is also important to keep in mind that memory loss is not the only symptom of dementia. Conditions like Alzheimer’s disease also affect speech, problem-solving skills, and other mental faculties, with the symptoms getting worse over time. In the late stages of Alzheimer’s, a person is no longer able to take care of themselves and requires extensive elderly home care services or relocation to a specialized facility.
Getting a Diagnosis, Making Care Plans
When you start noticing symptoms of cognitive decline in your loved one, it is paramount to schedule an appointment with their medical team. Since different types of dementia have different symptoms and require different care solutions, the first step in helping your parent is determining what type of dementia they have. Other than Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for 60-80% of all dementia cases, there are vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, mixed dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and others.
When your loved one’s medical team perform proper tests and give you a diagnosis, you should begin planning for care. In the beginning, your loved one may show mild symptoms and be able to live at home independently. However, since there is no cure for dementia and since it is a progressive disease, the symptoms will worsen over time and your parent will likely need more help than family members can provide. Some families opt for nursing homes and memory care facilities in the later stages of dementia, but others wish for their loved ones to remain at home for as long as possible. Elderly home care from Visiting Angels McKinney can enable your parent to age at home despite their dementia diagnosis and stay safe and comfortable.
Choosing the Right Type of Dementia Care
Families with loved ones diagnosed with dementia nowadays have many care options at their disposal. However, not all of them were created equally. If you want your loved one to receive personalized, one-on-one care in the comfort of their home, elderly home care services from Visiting Angels McKinney is the right choice. Care at home is customizable and flexible, developed in accordance with your parent’s needs, routine, and schedule. It can be altered as your loved one’s symptoms worsen, providing them with adequate support every step of the way.
Another benefit of elderly home care from Visiting Angels McKinney is that it keeps family members involved. Our services can supplement the care provided by yourself or other family members or it can provide you with respite when you need it. What is important is that you get to make all the decisions and give your loved one a voice when they are no longer able to communicate their wishes. This way, not only will you provide your loved one with the best care available, you will take care of yourself and your whole family too.
To learn more about dementia care from Visiting Angels, contact our McKinney, TX office today.