People who are diagnosed with dementia often worry that the illness will take them away from their families and their lives far sooner than they would like. This isn’t an unfounded fear because of the changes that dementia causes in the brain. In-home care can do a lot to make dementia care easier on both family caregivers and the dementia patients they love.
Understanding Dementia Symptoms
Dementia is a complicated progressive illness. Everyone who suffers from dementia has a different experience. Common symptoms of dementia include memory loss, confusion, mood swings, and changes in behavior. In the beginning stages of dementia, these symptoms are likely to be mild and seniors may find that they’re able to live a fairly normal life. As the disease progresses, they are likely to need a lot more help and support
Developing a Care Plan
Early diagnosis is always helpful because seniors with dementia are able to participate in forming a care plan for the future. Having a plan is essential no matter what stage the dementia has progressed to by the time it’s diagnosed. Some of the help that might be needed includes help with ADLs, transportation, companionship, and mobility. In-home care providers are there to assist with all aspects of caring for someone with dementia.
Providing a Safe Environment
Safety is important for all aging adults, but it’s especially important for people with dementia. As the disease progresses, people with dementia may be more likely to engage in behaviors like wandering or getting lost in familiar environments, even their own home. Keeping up with tripping hazards and hygiene are equally important for safety. In-home care providers have experience with all of these concerns.
Managing Behavioral Symptoms
Sometimes the biggest issue for people who love someone with dementia is that the individual seems to be turning into a different person altogether. Cognitive changes can mean that seniors become agitated or experience anxiety more often. Knowing how to respond to those changes properly can help to reduce confusion and agitation.
Communication and Challenges
In the later stages of dementia, seniors may have a lot more difficulty communicating what they need and want. They can understandably become frustrated because of this. Having extra help from in-home care providers allows family caregivers to start to understand these communication challenges and work through them more effectively.
Respite Care and Support
Family caregivers are often very close to the seniors they’re caring for and when that person has dementia, the entire situation becomes that much more challenging. Family caregivers need to be able to take time away periodically, resting and recharging so that they can come back fresh and ready to go. In-home care providers offer the respite care and support that allows family caregivers to take breaks whenever they need them.
Dementia care is demanding on family caregivers, but with the help of in-home care providers it’s a lot easier to anticipate the issues that are likely to arise. Hands-on help and experience both go a long way toward helping family caregivers to face the challenges that arise while caring for someone with dementia.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering In-Home Care in West Chester, PA please contact the caring staff at Harmony Companion Home Care today. (610) 910-6015
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