Dementia is a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interfere with everyday activities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that there were five million adults over 65 with dementia in 2014. As the U.S. population ages, they project that number to increase to 14 million by 2060.
If you have a loved one who is suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia, you understand the challenges that present themselves daily. People with dementia can continue to live in their own homes throughout their illness with support. Family and friends may have volunteered to help provide that support during the early stages, but when is the right time to bring in additional support?
Here are three common symptoms of dementia that indicate it might be time for professional additional support:
- COMMUNICATION – Forgetting words, having trouble staying on topic remembering names, and managing emotions, especially when frustrated, are common dynamics impacting relationships and care.
- RECOGNITION – Changes in the brain’s processing can make recognizing objects, people, dates, and places more challenging.
- SENSORY – Being able to recognize changes in light, heights of flooring and stairs (depth perception), and seeing at night. These changes dramatically impact the patient’s fall risk.
Professional in-home care includes a wide range of services. It can allow a person with dementia to stay in their home where things are familiar and comfortable. It also can be of great assistance and relief to family caregivers.
This is where Home Helpers® Home Care can make life easier. Home Helpers provides the most comprehensive care plan that includes Care and Companionship, Wellness Calls, Safety and 24-hour Monitoring, and Nutrition and Well-Being.
Home Helpers’ compassionate Caregivers are provided with specialized training. A combination of coursework and in-field training ensures competency, as well as determining which Caregiver is the best match for you or your loved one.
Dementia is a progressive condition, which means the symptoms worsen over time. As the condition progresses changes to support and the care plan must as well. Home Helpers customized care plan does just that, ensuring that the changing needs are being met.