Living with Alzheimer’s: How Home Care Can Provide Comfort and Routine
When a loved on receives a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, it can be a scary and overwhelming time. One of the big questions can be, how can we keep our loved one happy and cared for in their own home? Many people prefer to age in their own home, including those living with Alzheimer’s. At Home Care Assistance, our Care Professionals can provide your loved one with tailored care, that is adapted as your loved one’s needs change with Alzheimer’s, to ensure they receive the care they need.
Alzheimer’s affects up to 1 in 10 Australians aged over 65 years and up to 3 in 10 Australians aged over 85.[1] While it is more common in older people, Alzheimer’s can occasionally occur in younger people in their 40s and 50’s. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of dementia that affects intellectual functions such as memory, thinking and behaviour. While it is progressive, symptoms can vary from day to day, and even throughout the day. As the disease progresses, there will be more tasks that a person with Alzheimer’s needs assistance with. They also need routine to help them feel secure, and comfort to help them if they get confused.
It is important to have the right support for a loved one with Alzheimer’s that allows them to maintain their independence where they can do so safely but also support them in activities where they need help. Initially, this might just mean having support when leaving the house to avoid disorientation but over time, your loved one will need help with more daily activities.
Maintaining a routine that suits the needs of the person with Alzheimer’s is important. The routine for each person needs to be adapted to cover off essential activities such as personal care, but also keep the person engaged. The activities also need to be adapted to when the better times of day are. For example, if your loved one with Alzheimer’s is more active and alert earlier in the day, this may allow for more demanding activities such as doctor’s appointments to be carried out. Later in the day, when they are less alert, it may be better to be at home in a more familiar environment. Whatever the routine that works for your loved one, maintaining a routine can provide your loved one with peace and security. At Home Care Assistance, our Care Professionals can help establish and maintain a routine for your loved one, while also adapting as their needs change from day to day or over time.
Having Alzheimer’s can be confusing and scary, particularly when the sense of time is affected. The loss of sense of time can make it tricky to leave a loved one at home alone – even for a short period – as they may perceive a short period as a long time. Further, an altered sense of time can lead to a person becoming distressed at night. Having home care so that there is always someone with your loved one can help them feel safe and provide comfort if they get confused. This helps maintain a better quality of life.
Alzheimer’s can be a scary time. Routine and comfort are two important elements in caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer’s. However, doing this on your own is demanding and can result in you becoming worn out. Our Care Professionals at Home Care Assistance are trained to care for your loved one. Among helping them with daily tasks, this care includes establishing routines suited to their needs, and using techniques to comfort them if they become confused or disoriented. Even just being there can help provide comfort. Having this help in the home also frees you up to spend quality time with your loved one.
Support of a home care agency like Home Care Assistance, can bring enormous benefit and comfort to your quality of life while living independently at home. Home Care Assistance has viable solutions when it comes to supporting independent living. For more information, get in touch with a Home Care Assistance near me today.
