Dementia Home Care

Dementia Home Care

Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior.

Information

A loved one with dementia will need support in the home as the disease gets worse. You can help by trying to understand how the person with dementia perceives his or her world. Give the person a chance to talk about any challenges and take part in his or her own daily care.

Start by talking with your loved one’s health care provider. Ask how you can:

•    Help the person stay calm and oriented

•    Make dressing and grooming easier

•    Talk to the person

•    Help with memory loss

•    Manage behavior and sleep problems

•    Encourage activities that are both stimulating and enjoyable

Tips for reducing confusion in people with dementia include:

•    Have familiar objects and people around. Family photo albums can be useful.

•    Keep lights on at night.

•    Use reminders, notes, lists of routine tasks, or directions for daily activities.

•    Stick to a simple activity schedule.

•    Talk about current events.

Taking regular walks with a caregiver can help improve communication skills and prevent wandering.

Calming music may reduce wandering and restlessness, ease anxiety, and improve sleep and behavior.

People with dementia should have their eyes and ears checked. If problems are found, hearing aids, glasses, or cataract surgery may be needed.

People with dementia should also have regular driving tests. At some point, it won’t be safe for them to continue to drive. This may not be an easy conversation, so seek help from their provider and other family members. State laws vary on the ability of a person with dementia to continue to drive.

Supervised meals can help with feeding. People with dementia often forget to eat and drink and can become dehydrated as a result. Talk to the provider about the need for extra calories due to increased physical activity from restlessness and wandering.

Also, talk to the provider about:

•    Watching for risk of choking and what to do if choking occurs

•    How to increase safety in the home

•    How to prevent falls

•    Ways to improve bathroom safety

The Alzheimer’s Association’s Safe Return Program requires people with dementia to wear an identification bracelet. If they wander, their caregiver can contact the police and the national Safe Return office, where information about them is stored and shared nationwide.

Eventually, people with dementia may need 24-hour monitoring and assistance to provide a safe environment, control aggressive or agitated behavior, and meet their needs.

LONG-TERM CARE

A person with dementia may need monitoring and help at home or in an institution. Possible options include:

•    Adult day care

•    Boarding homes

•    Nursing homes

•    In-home care

Many organizations are available to help you care for a person with dementia. They include:

•    Adult protective services

•    Community resources

•    Local or state government departments of aging

•    Visiting nurses or aides

•    Volunteer services

In some communities, dementia-related support groups may be available. Family counseling can help family members cope with home care.

Advance directives, power of attorney, and other legal actions may make it easier to decide on care for the person with dementia. Seek legal advice early, before the person is unable to make these decisions.

There are support groups that can provide information and resources for people with Alzheimer disease and their caregivers.

Choosing a Nursing Home?

Choosing a Nursing Home?

Some people stay at a nursing home for a short time after being in the hospital. After they recover, they go home. However, most nursing home residents live there permanently because they have ongoing physical or mental conditions that require constant care and supervision.

If you need to go to a nursing home after a hospital stay, the hospital staff can help you find one that will provide the kind of care that’s best for you. If you are looking for a nursing home, ask your doctor’s office for recommendations. Once you know what choices you have, it’s a good idea to.

Tips on choosing a nursing home

Choosing the right nursing home is not easy, and you may be under pressure to move quickly due to a recent hospitalization or deterioration in your health. The more information you have, the greater your chances of finding the right fit.

Start with referrals. Does your family physician or specialist have any recommendations? Or do you know any friends who have used different homes? Knowing someone with first-hand experience of a nursing home can help you narrow your choices. However, remember your needs may differ; one size does not fit all.

Educate yourself. Online resources for nursing homes include ranking sites that utilize existing state data to rate nursing homes. In the every state has what is called a long-term care, which can be a valuable resource about the current condition of a nursing home. Advocacy groups for specific illnesses can also provide hints on finding the right facility.

Consider your medical needs. Different nursing homes may have more expertise in different areas. Are they experienced in handling your specific health condition?

Factor in distance. In general, the more convenient the home, the easier it is for family and friends to visit.

  • If you see a family visiting, you can ask them about their impressions of the home and how their loved one has been treated.
  • Ask if there is a Family Council operated by families of the residents—and if you could attend.

When should your family consider a nursing home?

Whether you and your family are facing a quick decision about a nursing home due to a recent event, or have been coping with a worsening progressive disease such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, considering a nursing home is not an easy decision. Emotions such as guilt, sadness, frustration, and anger are normal. But by working through your housing, financial, and medical options, you and your family make can make an informed decision.

Whether you’re looking for yourself or an older family member, here are some questions to ask when considering a nursing home:

Have you had a recent medical assessment? If you’re considering a nursing home as the next step after hospitalization, this has likely been done. However, if you’re considering a move from your home or another facility, a more formal assessment by a medical team can help clarify your needs and see if other housing options may be a possibility.

Can your needs be met safely in a different housing situation? If you need 24-hour supervision, or are in danger of wandering off or forgetting about a hot stove, for example, a skilled nursing facility may be the best option. If your needs are solely custodial, though, an assisted living facility may be a better fit.

Can your primary caregiver meet your needs? Caregivers are often juggling the needs of work, their own family responsibilities, and their own health. It’s not possible for one person to be awake and responsive 24 hours a day. Sometimes other family members can help fill in the gap, or day programs, home care services, and respite care can provide the necessary caregiver support. However, there may come a point where medical needs become too great and home care services are insufficient or become too expensive.

Would the need for a nursing home be temporary or permanent? Sometimes, a temporary situation may be covered through home care, or family members might be able to rotate care on a short-term basis. However, if the level of care is expected to be permanent, this may be too expensive or coverage might not be enough.

What is a nursing home or skilled nursing facility?

A nursing home is normally the highest level of care for older adults outside of a hospital. Nursing homes provide what is called custodial care, including getting in and out of bed, and providing assistance with feeding, bathing, and dressing. However, nursing homes differ from other senior housing facilities in that they also provide a high level of medical care. A licensed physician supervises each patient’s care and a nurse or other medical professional is almost always on the premises. Skilled nursing care is available on site, usually 24 hours a day. Other medical professionals, such as occupational or physical therapists, are also available. This allows the delivery of medical procedures and therapies on site that would not be possible in other housing.

Top 5 way Health Concerns for Seniors

Top 5 way Health Concerns for Seniors

When it involves health, at any age, a proactive approach is usually the greatest one. If you’re tasked with the care giving wants of somebody you care concerning in their older years, you would like to understand a way to approach a number of the health concerns that plague older people. Quickly recognizing these conditions could mean the difference between successful treatment and a significantly reduced quality of life. Here are the top five health conditions your loved one may face.

1. Heart Disease/Hypertension

Did we know that approximately 90 % of Americans will develop hypertension, or high blood pressure? That risk increases with age, and hypertension can cause strain on the heart and arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Unfortunately, hypertension causes no symptoms, and many people are not aware that they have it until a more serious condition occurs. To ensure your elderly loved one is not at risk, monitor blood pressure regularly, either at home or with the help of a doctor.

2. Mental Health Concerns

Dementia and depressions are two common mental health issues that plague the elderly. It’s important to know that dementia does not have to be part of the aging process. In fact, many elderly people are able to enjoy life free from dementia. This common mental health issue can be caused by a problem with medication, poor nutrition and underlying health conditions. If you notice dementia signs, talk to a mental health practitioner right away to get the help your loved one needs.

Depression is another common problem. Older adults who are facing the reality of people around them dying, younger family members moving on with life and the loneliness that comes from being a senior citizen can all lead to depression. To help a loved one with depression, first get medical help, and then focus on adding social events to their life to ensure that they are getting enough interaction with others.

3. Diabetes

Around 30 % of individuals age 65 and older have diabetes. This disease can cause no symptoms early on, which makes it hard to spot, yet it causes a myriad of related health problems. It can cause loss of hearing and vision, poor wound healing, a higher risk of infection and a higher risk for heart disease and stroke. Routine blood work can help rule out diabetes, but you must know what signs to watch for. Confusion, increased sleepiness, foot pain, weight loss, poorly healing injuries or depression can all be signs of diabetes.

4. Weight and Obesity

As you age, your risk of becoming overweight increases significantly. Not only does your metabolism slow down, but you also tend to become less active. Being overweight increases the risk of a number of health conditions, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and a number of cancers. If you are caring for someone who is elderly, encourage them to remain as active as their health permits while also focusing on good nutrition to avoid unnecessary weight gain.

5. Cancer

The American Cancer Society indicates that half of all men and one-third of all women in America will develop cancer during their lifetimes. The greatest risk factor for cancer is age, and older adults are at the highest risk. While some types of cancer are obvious, others grow slowly over time and may not be discovered until they are life-threatening. To avoid this scenario and improve the chances of an early diagnosis, which improves the chances of successful treatment; talk to your loved one’s doctor about screening and testing for various cancers.

As a caregiver, your loved one’s health is your number one priority. By learning how to notice these common problems, and taking measures to get care before they develop into something serious, you can provide your loved one with the best possible care.