Many people who have Alzheimer’s disease or another kind of dementia want to spend as much time as they can at home. Being a caretaker for someone with Alzheimer’s will go through the unique challenge of juggling multiple responsibilities, including being a partner, parent, and employee. There are numerous ways to receive assistance with caring for a dementia patient if the moment ever comes when you require help. Here are 4 types of care for Alzheimer’s disease in Raleigh, NC.
Memory Care Communities
Although many individuals wish they could keep their loved ones with them at home, for some people, community care is the best choice. This can be the case because their loved one needs a lot of care all the time, the care is too demanding physically or emotionally, their problematic behaviors make it risky for one person to provide care, or Medicaid is the sole source of funding for nursing homes.
Nursing homes, assisted living communities, and specialized memory care units are all possible residential settings for adults with dementia. Depending on the level of care required, the communities in your neighborhood, and the financial resources available, one may choose the most ideal option.
Home Healthcare
Home healthcare refers to medical help and care given inside a patient’s own residence. This can include nutritionists, medical social workers, physical, occupational, or speech therapists, licensed nurses, and nurses’ aides. Services that offer medical or caregiver assistance are typically referred to as home healthcare.
What services might therefore be offered by home healthcare?
- Bathing or showering
- Medication administration and management
- Assistance with grooming, dressing, and feeding
- Bedtime preparation
- Exercise and range of motion
- Monitoring for anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns
- Wound care
For example, while you are away at work, home healthcare personnel can provide care for a few hours or several hours at a time. Knowing that the team members are trained to assist with incontinence, challenging behaviors, or other issues can help bring peace of mind.
Home Companions and Helpers
You can also obtain a number of additional in-home services if you need more help. They include hiring companions who can visit to aid with senior isolation and lessen the likelihood of wandering, as well as offering assistance with housework and grocery shopping. As opposed to the home healthcare services previously discussed, which provide medical treatment, these services are occasionally referred to as home care services.
Respite Care
If you are the primary caregiver of a person with dementia, you might occasionally require more assistance. In essence, respite care fills in the gaps when you need help. It is intended to offer caregivers a break from their typical caregiving duties. Replacement care is another name for it. Retirement communities, as well as expanding or establishing new in-home services, may offer respite care. If you need a break or are going out of town, respite care can help keep your loved ones safe.
How Senior Care Options Help Those with Alzheimer’s
Dementia patients occasionally exhibit agitation, restlessness, or confusion. If they reside with relatives in their own home, their caregivers could grow weary or frustrated from giving round-the-clock care. The caregiver can attend a work meeting, run errands, spend time with their family, go read a book somewhere peaceful, or have coffee with a friend when additional care is provided at home or through other care options.