15 Dec Homecare helps people cope with Alzheimer’s
Professional homecare helps people cope with Alzheimer’s and allows them remain happy and safe in their own own home.
Because caring for people at home with Alzheimer’s or dementia is a full-time physical, emotional, and mental responsibility, family carers need all the help they can get. Therefore if you are the main carer for someone with Alzheimer’s you must be mindful that you can manage without compromising your own well being. You need to:
- Know what to expect with the progression of Alzheimer’s
- Recognise when you need help
- Accept any help offered your way
Home the Best for people with Alzheimer’s?
Change is very difficult for people suffering with memory problems that goes with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Home care helps people cope with the anxiety caused by the short-term memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s.
This is simply because being in familiar surroundings helps reduce this anxiety. In turn, because their long term memory is still intact, being at home with possessions triggers memories for people that they can enjoy and be relaxed in their own familiar environment.
It is a good idea to have someone come to the home and evaluate your loved one and their home environment because they can help you make a plan of action. The key issue is how to make the home safe, easy & comfortable.
Safety is the main consideration and you should make provision for the stage when people start to wander and cannot be left alone. Increased supervision needs for wandering might mean you will need to consider 24hr homecare. This could include a combination of paid carers and/or family who can help you out a few hours a day.
Safety issues to consider:
- Keypad door locks – to reduce risks of wandering
- Fire safety – Reduce risk by using power over-ride switches at night
- Falls prevention – hardwood floors, no rugs best for using walkers
- Transfers – O. T’s advise on assisted physical transfers management
- Special shower temp controls
- Danger free kitchen – toasters, knives & scissors kept safe
People with Alzheimer’s or dementia can be maintained comfortably within their homes so long as the main carer feels they can manage and there is no danger of harm to their loved one or others.
Professional Care Services to help with Alzheimer’s/Dementia
- Companionship: Help with supervision, activities or visiting.
- Personal care: Bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, exercising etc.
- Patient Handling: Transfers using hoists
- Medication Management: Reminder & noting any issues around this
- Housekeeping: Light housekeeping, shopping or meal preparation.
- Night-time Respite: Night carers allow day-time carer get rest.
- Respite: Short period care to allow main care giver take time off
- Close Symptom Monitoring: Behaviour changes monitored to allow early intervention with professional disciplines.
Person-Centred Care is Essential
Everyone’s experience with dementia and Alzheimer’s is individual and unique. Therefore person-centred support care is essential as it focuses on each person’s own history, personality, needs and wishes.
This approach requires us to take the time and effort to get to really know the person as an individual. Because of this approach we can offer the person with dementia:
- choices within their own ability to choose,
- dignity in care,
- best quality homecare support
Applewood Homecare staff have Alzheimer’s/Dementia care experience and awareness training and understand the particular challenges faced by our clients. By using strategies of purposeful distraction, anxiety reduction and meaningful involvement they encourage and support clients coping with dementia. Such techniques support the everyday tasks of personal care, mealtimes and nutrition, medication management and foster general well-being in clients.
Our Care Manager Natasha has many years experience in caring and working with people with Alzheimer’s and Dementia and is therefore an invaluable in-house resource. Feel free to contact us if you would like some more advice or support to help cope with caring for Alzheimer’s at home.