Alzheimer's In-Home Care For Dementia Patients

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive form of dementia. Its symptoms can range from minimal memory loss to profound confusion. While some people with Alzheimer's can still take care of their physical needs such as bathing, dressing, and eating, others cannot carry out any of these activities on their own. If your elderly loved one has dementia related to Alzheimer's disease or from another cause, consider hiring an Alzheimer's in-home care professional who can provide the following interventions to help ensure the health and well-being of the patient.

Establishing A Daily Plan Of Care

It is essential that people with Alzheimer's and dementia have daily routines because it can help reduce anxiety and added confusion. The home health care provider can develop a structured plan that will take into consideration your loved one's physical and cognitive limitations, personal preferences, and whether or not the individual needs to take frequent breaks when they are receiving care.

The home health care professional can also establish a regular routine of specific times the individual will eat their meals, bathe, wake up in the morning, and go to bed at night. While this schedule can be adjusted to meet the patient's needs, it will help establish a predictable routine that may help the individual feel more comfortable. The plan of care may also include activities that your loved one enjoys or has enjoyed before they were diagnosed with dementia such as listening to music, taking walks, or watching movies. 

Safety Interventions

People with dementia need to be monitored because they can develop a syndrome known as sundowning which refers to increased confusion at night, or when "the sun goes down." During sundowning episodes, Alzheimer's patients may wander around the home and try to leave the premises.

Sundowning may also place your loved one at risk of falling down the stairs, turning on the stove, or taking additional doses of their medications that have been already taken. The home health care professional will keep a close watch on the individual and if they exhibit wandering behavior or otherwise put themselves in harm's way, the caregiver will redirect them and divert their attention to another activity. 

If your loved one has dementia, consider the above interventions a home health care professional can offer. The healthcare provider can offer quality and consistent care to help both you and your loved one navigate the challenges and various stages of dementia.