Coping with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s — for yourself or an aging parent or other loved one — is going to be difficult. Even though you may have recognized some of the earliest signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s, things change when it comes through a formal diagnosis.
You are probably thinking about the future, what it may hold, and how difficult it’s going to be to witness the memory loss expanding and increasing for your loved one. What is it going to be like if they reach that point when they don’t recognize you anymore?
Most people have a tendency to go down dark roads during times like these. They think of worst-case scenarios, and even though Alzheimer’s is a disease that will steal away most memories, given enough time, the best care should start as early as possible.
It’s easy to put it off and wait, assuming that your mother or father, spouse, or other loved one is doing okay right now and can manage their care without too much outside assistance just yet. But the sooner you begin with professional, experienced support, the more it will help them in those years when the memory loss increases.
Now, about finding the right Alzheimer’s care, here are a few tips to help you decide which one would be best right now.
Tip #1: Start early.
As mentioned, too many families wait. They don’t think professional Alzheimer’s care is necessary during these earlier stages of the disease. Even the senior diagnosed with the disease often feels capable of tending to his or her own care without a professional home care aide.
That’s true in most cases. However, many people overlook the importance of familiarity. When a senior has difficulty recognizing the people around them, even family members, familiarity helps bring comfort.
If the senior waits until the final days or weeks to begin working with a professional caregiver, he or she may be more stressed and anxious because they don’t recognize that individual. Start early and help them forge a connection with this individual and that may pay dividends in the future.
Tip #2: Make the experience a central point.
When you hire an Alzheimer’s care provider, focus on their experience. How often have they worked with other seniors dealing with Alzheimer’s? There are numerous types of dementia, though, so you don’t have to focus exclusively on Alzheimer’s but any type of dementia.
When you hire somebody who has significant experience working with other seniors diagnosed with this disease, they will often have wonderful strategies and ideas that can help improve the individual’s quality of life, comfort, and companionship in the future.
Tip #3: An aide may only be needed part-time for now.
As mentioned, start early, but you don’t have to hire somebody for full-time, around-the-clock care—at least not right away. If the senior is lucid and cogent enough to tend to his or her basic care, then why not look for somebody part-time, even for one or two days a week, for just a couple of hours?
Is that practical if you hire independently? Probably not, but it is possible when you hire through an agency.
Tip #4: The senior should have the ultimate say.
One mistake too many families make is deciding what their aging loved one should and should not do now. They take it upon themselves to decide the best course of care for that individual.
Don’t make that mistake. Make sure to include the aging senior in the process of looking for home care, and make sure they get the final say. You may not agree with their decision, but it should be their decision, so long as they can make a rational, reasoned one.
Amelia Home Care provides traditional Alzheimer’s Care in Queens, NY, along with virtual caregiving and remote patient monitoring. Our service area includes Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and Westchester County. Call today at (929) 333-3955
We proudly provide non-medical home care services to individuals with disabilities, injuries, difficulties with mobility, or illnesses. Our team is composed of highly trained and competent staff members who are dedicated and experts in delivering home care services in the comfort of our client’s home.
Through our personalized care plan, we can give you the needed care services that are all intended to cater to your unique personal and health needs. With us, we ensure around-the-clock services and supervision to help you achieve optimum health and wellness.
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