Understanding And Helping Your Parent Through The 3 Stages Of Alzheimer's Disease

Watching a parent age can be emotionally overwhelming, but helping them navigate through the aging process can also wreak havoc on your physical and financial health. An estimated 65 million people will need to care for a sick, disabled, or elderly relative or close friend, so you may also become a caregiver for your own elderly parent. While hiring professional in-home help is beneficial, you should also educate yourself on your aging parent's needs. Using this guide on the different stages of Alzheimer's disease, you can provide better care for your elderly parent.

Early

Forgetting things periodically is normal as a person ages. However, if your elderly parent struggles to remember family names, words, or how to complete simple daily tasks, it is most likely the beginning stage of Alzheimer's disease.

During this stage, your parent will prefer to remain independent, but you should offer help whenever possible. Since arranging and keeping appointments will be difficult for your parent during this stage, consider hanging a calendar on their refrigerator. Help them make their appointments and mark them on the calendar.

Install a monitoring device on your parent's phone, as well. This technology will allow to track your parent while you are at work or at your own home. If the GPS monitoring app shows your parent in a strange location, contact them or go to their location immediately.

Since Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, your parent's symptoms may increase without warning.

Moderate

Stage 2 of Alzheimer's disease will increase your parent's memory and concentration issues. In many cases, your parent will forget to complete important tasks, such as bathing, brushing their teeth, or getting dressed.

To ensure your parent remains clean and healthy, hiring an in-home nurse is essential. These professionals will not only make sure your parent is taking required medications, but they will also help with bathing, grooming, and dressing.

Severe

The last stage of Alzheimer's is the most severe, since the progressive disease does permanent damage to the nerve cells in the brain. Memory, concentration, communication, and completing basic tasks will be difficult to impossible. Due to this complete lack of independence, your parent will most likely begin acting out aggressively.

Full-time care is imperative during this severe stage of the disease. Consider hiring a full-time nurse from a company like Queen City Home Care during times that you are not able to be with your parent. Or, move your parent into facility designed to help individuals with this disease.

The severe stage is the longest part of Alzheimer's, so it is important to keep your parent safe and healthy during this period.

The emotional, physical, and financial nature of Alzheimer's disease can be challenging, but proper understanding is key to your parent's wellness. With this guide and the help of professionals, you will understand how to help your parent through the different stages of Alzheimer's disease.