Aging • Caregiving • Dementia Alzheimer’s Is a Common Cause of Dementia. Do You Have a Plan?
Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Eventually, the symptoms can grow severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.
In Massachusetts alone, more than 130,000 adults have Alzheimer’s Disease or another form of dementia, according to the Massachusetts/New Hampshire chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Do you have a plan for how to help family members live with Alzheimer’s Disease? Making a plan now can relieve the stress family caregivers may feel as the disease progresses. In-home care for Alzheimer’s Disease keeps adults in comfortable, familiar surroundings, which can be comforting. Read on to learn more about why in-home care is a good option.
About Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia – memory loss and other mental declines that can interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.
Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease. The most common early symptom of Alzheimer’s is trouble remembering new information, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
As Alzheimer’s advances, symptoms get more severe and include:
- Disorientation
- Confusion
- Behavior changes
Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease
Most people who have Alzheimer’s are diagnosed when they’re age 65 and older.
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, according to Massachusetts General Hospital. Many of the treatment options focus only on temporarily slowing down the disease and managing symptoms. There are only five FDA-approved drugs for Alzheimer’s Disease. You can read the latest about prescription drug development on the Alzheimer’s Association’s website.
Families can tap into local support groups for help. Social meet-ups with others living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, keep adults engaged in activities they love. Online support, such as ALZConnected, offers resources to help families and individuals cope with living with memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Consider In-Home Care
HouseWorks Caregivers help families provide consistent routines and support for people with Alzheimer’s – at home, where they’re most familiar. HouseWorks has Caregivers specially trained in dementia care.
HouseWorks recognizes that every person living with dementia or memory loss has a unique situation. This is why our CareTeams will customize a personalized and private ‘memory care at-home’ plan for you. We focus first on safety and structure, but we also keep seniors engaged in activities they love because research shows older adults who remain active have less anxiety and depression.
- Personal care, from a few hours a week to 24-hour and live-in care
- Help with showering and dressing
- Medication reminders
- Meal planning and prep
- Transportation to and from doctor’s appointments
- Meaningful activities and memory exercises
- Extra support from a Supportive Home Care Aide who has received specialized training in order to work with individuals living with Alzheimer’s
- Capabilities to care for individuals at all stages of the disease, from early onset/first symptoms through advanced-stage
- Coordination for transitions to home after a hospital or rehabilitation stay
Why choose in-home Alzheimer’s care?
Familiar surroundings are safe and calming, reducing anxiety and confusion
Our services can grow with you as needs change, minimizing disruptive moves to different facilities
A study found 90% of people with dementia had unmet safety needs in community residential facilities, putting them at risk for falling or wandering2
Research has found that a close caregiver relationship may be more beneficial than medication for loved ones with dementia.
- Familiar surroundings are safe and calming, reducing anxiety and confusion
- Our services can grow with you as needs change, minimizing disruptive moves to different facilities
- A study found 90% of people with dementia had unmet safety needs in community residential facilities, putting them at risk for falling or wandering2
- Research has found that a close caregiver relationship may be more beneficial than medication for loved ones with dementia.
HouseWorks provides individual attention that helps individuals with Alzheimer’s live at home safely and comfortably for as long as possible. Call us today at 617-928-1010 or visit our website for more information about in-home dementia care.