Dementia is one of the most troubling and difficult health issues affecting seniors. However, it doesn’t just affect the elderly generation; it can affect young adults as well. This health disorder is troublesome because it affects a person's very core — their mind, personality and memories.
If you have a loved one that is currently struggling with dementia, there are many different services available to help you and your loved one. Home health care services are among those options. Learn more about how home health care services can help your loved one with dementia receive the services and help they need.
Oftentimes, one of the primary worries for family members of people with dementia is what will happen if they leave their loved one at home on their own. Dementia is an unpredictable disease in terms of the behaviors a person will exhibit and how quickly the disease will progress.
Because of this, it can be hard for family members to leave their loved one on their own. At the same time, work and other obligations make it next to impossible for someone to always be home to watch out for the family member with dementia.
Home caregivers can help fill in any companionship and supervision gaps that might exist when family members need to go to work or attend to their own needs. Companionship services can simply mean that the caregiver will sit in the room with your loved one, but they can also mean that caregiver will read to your loved one, go on walks with them or simply chat with them.
While many people focus on the issues of personality changes and typical memory loss issues when it comes to dementia, there are also other, more physical issues that can occur with this condition. When a person has dementia, they often have a difficult time remembering to perform basic hygiene and personal care tasks.
Because time becomes convoluted for a person with dementia, they may think they brushed their teeth or showered in the morning when they actually have not done so for days or weeks. It can be difficult for family members to help with these issues, particularly with showering and other bathroom assistance.
As a person's dementia progresses, they will become less able to control their bodily functions and will also not be able to bathe themselves effectively or safely. A home caregiver can help your loved one perform these important tasks and ensure that they keep on a regular hygiene schedule.
People with dementia often exhibit certain types of characteristic behaviors as a result of their condition. These behaviors can include anger, aggression and extreme mood swings. When a person has dementia, not being able to remember or recognize anything can cause them to become frustrated and scared. This, in turn, can cause them to act out in inappropriate ways.
It can be very difficult for family members to deal with these behaviors when they themselves are already anxious and unsure about dealing with their loved one’s condition. A trained home caregiver will be able to utilize specific care tactics and strategies to objectively deal with your loved one's dementia-related behaviors. This will help keep both you and your loved one feeling calm and safe.
If your loved one has dementia, home healthcare services can help improve the quality of their life while also taking a tremendous load off your back. Call
Alliance Home Care VNA to get home healthcare services for your loved one.
