How Home Care is Beneficial for Seniors with Dementia
A wide range of thoughts and emotions can hit when an elderly family member is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Fear, frustration, sadness, and anxiety can cause families to make rash decisions. They may decide to move their aging loved one to a memory care facility as soon as possible, without considering alternative care options.
It's important that families recognize that an Alzheimer's disease or dementia diagnosis is no cause for haste. Most types of dementia are slow and progressive, meaning that the disease slowly causes damage to the brain and worsens over time, as in years. A person with a dementia diagnosis may be fully capable of living independently with minimal support before needing more help.
Many families aren't aware of the many benefits in-home care offers a senior diagnosed with dementia. If your aging loved one has recently received a dementia diagnosis, here are four benefits of home care specifically for seniors with dementia.
Stay in a Familiar Environment
The first benefit to choosing home care for seniors with dementia is that they can remain in their own homes. Staying in their own home helps seniors with dementia remain grounded in familiar surroundings, causing less disorientation. When they have bad days, they can find security in familiar possessions. A move to a memory care facility can be very confusing for someone with dementia. It can also be costly for families. To cover the cost of the move, many families must sell their loved one's homes and possessions.
Individualized Care
Studies have shown that seniors with dementia who receive one-on-one home care from attentive caregivers have a higher quality of life than those who are placed in memory care facilities. The key here is attentive care. A professional caregiver certified to work with dementia clients is trained to recognize non-verbal signs of pain and discomfort. They can gently encourage nutrition and hydration and provide care in a way that makes their client feel safe and comfortable. Professional caregivers also keep their clients engaged in life, helping them stay active and connected with meaningful leisure pursuits. Although memory care facilities offer care assistance and activities, the caregivers and staff can't meet everyone's needs simultaneously. Someone will always have to wait. Waiting can cause more anxiety for a senior with dementia.
Continue With a Familiar Routine
Another benefit to choosing home care for seniors with dementia is that they can keep familiar routines. When families choose home care, the senior's routine is the first priority. Routine is crucial to someone with dementia. It helps them navigate their day without feeling so lost and confused. They know what to expect and when giving them more peace during a progressive disease. When they move to a care facility, their routine needs to fit the facility's schedule. Meals are served at certain times, activities are available at certain hours, and grooming is completed when it fits the caregiver's schedule.
Care Evolves Over Time
The final benefit of choosing home care for a senior with dementia is that home care evolves with the client's changing needs. Home care can be customized to provide as much or as little help as the client and family require. Family members may be able to support their aging loved ones in the earlier stages of dementia. They may choose to hire a professional caregiver so they can run errands once a week or take care of other needs. As their loved one's dementia progresses, the family can add more hours and days. This flexibility is a significant benefit for both the client and family. Moving to a memory care facility might not be the best option in the earlier stages of dementia, where the senior recognizes their dementia isn't as progressed as other memory care residents. When they do reach that point, moving them to memory care can be extremely disorienting.
Should you decide to pursue senior home care for your aging loved one with dementia, Visiting Angels North Fort Myers and Cape Coral is here for you. When you choose us, you can have confidence knowing you are choosing a home care company that is seasoned in dementia care. Our mission is to help your loved ones remain where they feel happiest, safest, and most comfortable. Rather than moving them to a memory care facility, we provide compassionate care at home, helping them age in place. To learn more, please get in touch with us today by calling 239-226-1620.