November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Month. Many people would agree that having a family member with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is among the most difficult things a family could have to deal with. AD affects more than 5 million people in the United States. There are 15 million people providing unpaid care for individuals with AD, and 35 percent of them say that their own health has declined as a result of being a family caregiver.
If your family is struggling to keep an older adult with AD safely in their home and living the best life they can, having the assistance of a homecare provider can make a huge difference in the health of family caregivers and the AD patient. Below are just a few of the ways a homecare provider can help your family.
Prevent Wandering
If your family member is prone to wandering, a common behavior in people with AD, a homecare provider can watch the individual so they do not leave the house. Homecare providers can distract your loved one when they are trying to leave by offering an enjoyable activity. Or, they can provide reassurance if the behavior is arising out of anxiety or fear.
Cook Meals and Help with Eating
Homecare providers can prepare healthy meals and help with eating, if needed. They can even take the AD patient grocery shopping and clean up after the meal.
Give Family Caregivers a Break
One of the struggles of being a family caregiver is that it is time consuming. It can be difficult to find time to attend to your own responsibilities, let alone spend time doing things you enjoy. The stress of it all can lead to caregiver burnout. Having a homecare provider spend time with the older adult allows family caregivers to do other things without worrying.
Provide Meaningful Activities
Like everyone else, people with AD have needs and wants. And, like everyone else, they get bored when there’s nothing to do. A homecare provider can help them to do activities they enjoy. Homecare agencies help match their employees to the needs of the individual, so they can assign someone who is experienced working with AD patients. Because of that, they are knowledgeable about how to alter activities to the abilities of the older adult.
Overnight Care
Depending on the stage of the disease and the older adult’s living situation, there may be times when overnight care is needed. Homecare providers can stay with AD patients during the overnight hours, so that family caregivers can sleep in their own beds. Having overnight care available can make it possible for family caregivers to go out of town for a weekend when they might not otherwise be able to.
Sources: https://www.alz.org/facts/
https://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-wandering.asp
If you or an aging loved one are considering Homecare Services in Walpole MA, or anywhere in Eastern Massachusetts, please call the caring staff at CARE Resolutions – (508) 906-5572.
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