In-Home Alzheimer's Care Near You
JUMP TO: Alzheimer's Care | Services | Finding the Right Caregiver | Common Questions | Options for Care | Contact
Alzheimer's Home Care from Visiting Angels Pittsfield
Dealing with the effects of dementia or Alzheimer's can be a source of great stress for families. Along with the practical considerations of caring for a loved one, family members may have different ideas about how to best keep their loved one safe. Some members of the family may think that a move to institutionalized care is the only option. Others may be hesitant to force their loved one from their familiar surroundings. Visiting Angels Pittsfield offers home care for Alzheimer's patients that you can all feel good about. Our assistance provides those with Alzheimer's with the best of both worlds - specialized care while helping your loved one stay in their home. Alzheimer's care from Visiting Angels Pittsfield keeps seniors safe while allowing them to live independently at home.
For a free in-home assessment for Alzheimer's care at home, contact Visiting Angels Pittsfield by calling us at 413-344-9281 or filling out our online form.
In-Home Alzheimer's Care Addresses Many Needs
In-home Alzheimer's care from Visiting Angels Pittsfield can address the unique needs associated with memory disorders while simultaneously helping with the common struggles of the aging population. Our personal care assistance can help your loved one with everything from dealing with the behavior issues often associated with dementia, to help with common daily tasks including preparing meals, remembering medications, getting dressed, and more.
Along with the activities of daily living, Alzheimer's care at home from Visiting Angels Pittsfield can also provide companionship and social support to seniors. While cognitive and physical impairment can make maintaining relationships difficult, understanding caregivers can provide your loved one with the joyful companionship they might otherwise be missing.
Tips for Choosing the Right In-Home Alzheimer's Caregiver
An important aspect of Alzheimer's care at home from Visiting Angels Pittsfield is your ability to select your elder care professional. It is not always easy to trust an outside caregiver and that is why we try to involve our clients in the caregiver selection process. You will have an opportunity to sit down with qualified, pre-screened caregivers from our home care agency. You can ask them questions, explain your needs, and get a feel for their personalities. Once you are comfortable, you decide which Alzheimer's care professional from Visiting Angels Pittsfield you would like to work with. If you change your mind at any time, we can help you choose a different professional for your care.
For a free in-home assessment for Alzheimer's care at home, contact Visiting Angels Pittsfield by calling us at 413-344-9281 or filling out our online form.
Common Questions About Alzheimer's Disease
What is Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative brain disorder that is characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes. Symptoms worsen over time, usually over several years, and can have a severe effect on performing daily tasks and activities.
Alzheimer's is considered a terminal condition, with an average life expectancy of 4 to 8 years after diagnosis, though some individuals live 15 or 20 years after their initial diagnosis. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Roughly 5.5 million Americans, the vast majority of whom are older adults (over the age of 65), are living with Alzheimer's. Early Onset Alzheimer's, on the other hand, affects approximately 200,000 Americans under the age of 65, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
What is the Difference Between Dementia and Alzheimer's?
Dementia is an umbrella term for a wide range of brain disorders that are characterized by memory loss. Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia. According to estimates, Alzheimer's cases account for somewhere between 60% to 80% of all cases of dementia.
What are the Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease?
While scientists are still researching the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease, researchers have identified a number of risk factors.
The three biggest risk factors are as follows:
- Advanced Age. In the vast majority of cases, symptoms of Alzheimer's disease begin after the age of 65.
- Genetics. Individuals with a family history of Alzheimer's are at higher risk of developing the disease themselves.
- Heart Health. Poor cardiovascular health increases one’s risk. Individuals with a history of hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, or cardiac arrest will be at higher risk.
Other risk factors include
- Sleeping problems
- High stress levels
- Heavy smoking
- Heavy drinking
- History of head trauma
- Exposure to air pollution
What are the Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease?
Most symptoms, particularly early signs of Alzheimer's, are expressed through a person's speech, thought patterns, and behaviors.
The most prominent symptoms include:
- Short-term and long-term memory loss
- Trouble solving simple problems
- Uncommon struggles with day-to-day activities
- Words forgotten or mixed up
- Items lost more frequently
- Confusion about current time or place
- Confusion about the names and identities of people
- Irrational, irritable, or depressed behaviors and actions
How Does Alzheimer's Disease Progress?
Researchers believe the disease begins many years before people with Alzheimer's begin to show any indications. Symptoms typically start to appear in old adults, though some cases of Alzheimer's begin in a person’s 40s or 50s. Alzheimer's is a gradual, progressive disease, with symptoms becoming worse over a period of years.
At first, symptoms will be mild and will have minimal impact on the person’s well-being. As the disease progresses, symptoms develop from mild to moderate to severe. By the final stages of the disease, the person may lose all short-term and long-term memory, the ability to speak and to understand speech, and the ability to perform basic personal activities, such as how to use the bathroom or eat on their own. Learn how to prepare for the stages of Alzheimer's.
Does Alzheimer's Disease Have a Cure?
Currently, there is no known cure for Alzheimer's disease, and the disease's progress is believed to be irreversible. While scientists continue to search for a cure, modern treatments and clinical trials are limited to slowing the onset of the disease, delaying its initial symptoms, or reducing its progress.
Doctors recommend that individuals at risk or living with Alzheimer's disease focus on healthy lifestyle choices, particularly focusing on cardiovascular health. Interventions such as improved sleep habits, increased omega-3 intake, and decreased stress are also proven to reduce the risk.
What are the Options for Alzheimer's Care Near You?
As Alzheimer's disease progresses, individuals living with the disease require high levels of care to ensure their well-being and safety. Individuals with early-stage and mid-stage Alzheimer's are typically cared for by friends or family. But as the disease reaches its later stages, professional Alzheimer's care is often required.
One option for care is moving your loved one into a nursing care facility. However, this can be traumatic for individuals with Alzheimer's, and it is typically considered a last resort.
Another option is to hire Alzheimer's home care services, such as those offered by Visiting Angels Pittsfield. Our specialized in-home care near you helps individuals age in place with Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's home care is distinct from traditional home care services, since individuals with Alzheimer's have distinct care needs from other seniors. Visiting Angels' specialized care is designed around the unique challenges of the disease, as well as the recipient’s individual care needs. Care is provided in the comfort of the recipient’s home, and services are performed by caregivers who are uniquely qualified to care for individuals living with Alzheimer's.
Contact Us for In-Home Alzheimer's Care Berkshires
When you have a family member in need of in-home Alzheimer's care services in the Berkshires and Western Massachusetts, contact Visiting Angels Pittsfield by calling us at 413-344-9281 or filling out our online form. Our knowledgeable staff is ready to answer your questions and help you get started.
Serving Pittsfield, the Berkshires and Surrounding Communities
Visiting Angels PITTSFIELD, MA
197 South St Bldg APittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: 413-344-9281