Home Care in Wellesley MA
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. If your parent is at the beginning of a journey with this progressive disease, now is the perfect time to start making plans for their future, starting with the care that they will receive. This will not only give both of you peace of mind that these issues are already settled, but it can ensure that no matter the rate at which the disease progresses or the specific symptoms that your aging parent experiences, you are as prepared as you can be.
One particularly effective step in preparing your parent for their progression through Alzheimer’s disease is starting a home care arrangement. Even if your parent has not needed care previously or you have been able to handle all of their needs up until this point, this type of care can be instrumental in helping both of you get through the progression in the best way possible.
Some of the benefits of having a home care provider be a part of your parent’s care as they progress through Alzheimer’s disease include:
• More social engagement. Alzheimer’s disease can be very isolating. Your parent might start avoiding going out of the house because of the disorientation and confusion, or may be embarrassed about their symptoms and avoid social interaction. This can lead to potentially dangerous loneliness and isolation. Having a home care provider means that your parent has an extra source of social engagement beyond you, helping to keep their emotional and mental health high, and providing them with encouragement to stay as socially active as possible.
• Preparation for sudden changes. There is no way of telling how your parent will progress through the disease. They might be in the early stages where the symptoms are barely noticeable and make little impact on their daily functioning for several years before moving into moderate stages, or they may progress rapidly and be in advanced stages within just months. Though a slower progression is more common, it is important that you are as prepared as you can be for however their progression unfolds. Having a care provider available means that your parent is protected in the event that there is a sudden change in their abilities and they need more help than they have.
• Handling of sensitive tasks. Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease will progressively lose both their cognitive and physically functioning. Even in the moderate stages they will have difficulty with tasks such as toileting, bathing, and dressing. A home care provider can provider dignified, respectful assistance in these areas that enable your parent to age in place with as little stress as possible. This can be especially meaningful for those who are not comfortable with the thought of their child helping with these tasks, or whose children are not capable of handling them due to their own challenges and limitations.
• Smoother transition. The reality is that all people with Alzheimer’s disease will need care once they reach the moderate stage, if not before. They will especially need care in the later stages. Attempting to introduce a care provider once the more significant cognitive and memory challenges have set in, however, can be very difficult. Introducing this care now means that your parent will have a chance to get accustomed to the care provider and feel more comfortable with them even as the disease progresses.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Wellesley, MA, or anywhere in Eastern Massachusetts, please call the caring staff at CARE Resolutions – (508) 906-5572.
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