Preparing for Mid-Stage and Late-Stage Alzheimer's Home Care in McKinney, TX

Learn about what you should prepare for when researching options for mid and late-stage Alzheimer's home care services in McKinney, Allen, Plano, Frisco and surrounding areas in Collin County, TX

When your parent is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, it seems like your whole world has been turned upside down. While being focused on their current condition and taking care of their immediate needs, it is hard to think about future plans regarding your loved one's care.

However, finding time to think about what to do later on is important, because preparing yourself on time for advanced stages will make it easier to cope. Learning about Alzheimer's care options before your parent's disease progresses will help you choose the best option and improve your loved one's quality of life.

What to Expect with Mid-Stage and Late-Stage Alzheimer's

Seniors in early-stage Alzheimer's usually don't show any symptoms, except occasional memory lapses. For the most part older adults are independent and only need assistance with certain daily tasks. This stage lasts for 1-2 years.

Mid-Stage Alzheimer's Disease

Unfortunately, as the disease progresses, symptoms get worse. Mid-stage Alzheimer's lasts from two to four years and during this period seniors start struggling to function independently. You can expect that your loved one will experience severe memory lapses and difficulty communicating, decreased hand-eye coordination and inability to recognize certain names. In this stage, seniors depend on additional care from loved ones or professional Alzheimer's home care providers.

Late-Stage Alzheimer's Disease

In this last stage a person becomes completely dependent on others for care. Some families hire 24-hour Alzheimer's care services, while others move their loved one to a nursing home. This stage is characterized by short-term and long-term memory loss, severe difficulty speaking, loss of physical abilities and high vulnerability to infections.

Alzheimer's Home Care: How to Plan Ahead for Later Stages

From the moment your parent gets diagnosed with Alzheimer's it is important that you start preparing for mid-stage and late-stage. This is not something that can be done in a day, and rest assured that doing the research, absorbing new information and looking for the perfect Alzheimer's care solution will take time. Therefore, by taking a piece-by-piece approach start learning about what to expect for your loved one and yourself. Keep in mind that your parent will experience changes in behavior and that taking care of their needs will have a tremendous impact on your life and emotional and physical well-being. Another thing you should consider if your parent has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's is your finances. Providing a loved one with Alzheimer's care be expensive and as the disease progresses, you may need to consider in-home care or residential memory care.

If you wish to learn about Alzheimer's home care and respite care options within Collin County, contact our McKinney, TX office today.