In-Home Alzheimer's Care Near You
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.
Contact Visiting Angels Pittsfield to book your confidential, in-home consultation.
JUMP TO: Services | Finding the Right Caregiver | Common Warning Signs | Ways to Support Loved Ones | Common Questions | Options for Care | Contact
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.
What are Common Warning Signs for Alzheimer's Disease?
Do you suspect that your loved one may have Alzheimer’s? Even though there currently isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s, there are therapies and treatments that can slow the worsening of dementia systems. If you think that someone you love may have Alzheimer’s, it’s important to get them in front of a physician as soon as possible. The sooner a diagnosis is made, the sooner that treatments can begin and you can hire home care solutions.
Below are the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s:
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home or at work
- Confusion about time and place
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Withdrawal from work or social activities
- Changes in mood or personality (signs of anxiety, depression, mood swings, disinterest in normal activities, etc.)
- Challenges in planning or solving problems
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgment when making decisions (pay attention to factors their grooming habits or the state of their home)
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
If your loved one is displaying any of the above signs, you should get them to a physician as soon as possible. It’s important to understand that Alzheimer’s isn’t a part of the normal aging process. Most people will experience one or two of these symptoms. But, with Alzheimer’s, these symptoms are more persistent and gradually get worse.
Ways to Support Loved Ones After Alzheimer's Diagnosis
Below are some basic steps that you can take after your loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s:
- Educate yourself about the disease. The more you know, the more you can be prepared. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and the Alzheimer’s Association are two great resources.
- Take care of financial, legal and long-term care planning issues. Discuss wishes related to future care and end-of-life issues.
- Employ cognitive stimulation. Listening to music, word puzzles and memory games can help and can provide a positive experience for the patient and caregivers.
- Arrange respite and/or regular professional care. Even if you are willing and able to be a primary caregiver for an Alzheimer’s patient, you will need help, if only to take a short break. Plus, it helps to introduce a professional caregiver while a person is still in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, because once the disease progresses it can be more difficult and upsetting to change routines. When looking to hire home care help, try to find a person who has Dementia Care Professionals of America training or experience with dementia care clients. Visiting Angels, for example, the nation’s leading network for quality, compassionate home care, is one local home care franchised agency that provides this training to its staff.
- Build a support system. Being a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s can be stressful and overwhelming. Find people to talk to, reach out for help, and always make time to maintain your own physical and mental health. Many local hospitals and departments of aging offer free support groups, along with sites like the National Family Caregivers Association) and Caring.com.
If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, know that you are not alone. For more information or to explore care options, contact Visiting Angels today.
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 Alzheimer's 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