When you’re taking care of a parent with Alzheimer’s, it can be hard to recognize the signs of the disease progressing. If you’re seeing your senior daily or a few times a week little signs that indicate the dementia is progressing are easy to dismiss as just your senior parent having a bad day. But Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease. It’s not going to get better.
Paying attention to any behavioral changes will let you know when your senior loved one needs specialized Alzheimer’s care. Alzheimer’s home care is a supportive and holistic care that will help your senior parent live safely at home and get the support they need as their disease progresses. The caregivers that provide Alzheimer’s care have training and experience working with seniors that have Alzheimer’s so they are able to handle things like seniors who wander or seniors that are prone to angry outbursts. Getting Alzheimer’s care can also help you learn better methods of communicating with your senior parent. If you see any of these signs it’s time to learn more about Alzheimer’s care:
Forgetting To Eat And Drink
If you notice that your senior parent doesn’t eat or drink anymore unless they are prompted to do that’s a sign that your senior loved one needs Alzheimer’s care. A trained care provider will keep track of when your senior parent is eating and drinking and how much they are eating and drinking. That way they can be sure to prompt your senior parent to eat meals regularly and drink water often so that your senior parent doesn’t become dehydrated or malnourished. When your senior loved one no longer recognizes hunger and thirst cues they need Alzheimer’s care.
Trouble Bathing And Taking Care Of Hygiene
Seniors who have Alzheimer’s can get quite agitated when they are confused and yet need to bathe or take care of hygiene issues. Alzheimer’s care givers who have been trained in how to soothe people with Alzheimer’s when they are upset or confused can effectively help seniors shower or bathe or take care of hygiene tasks like brushing their teeth and help them stay calm while they do it.
Wandering
If your senior loved one is starting to wander off on their own they need Alzheimer’s care so that they are never alone. When your senior parent has Alzheimer’s home care, their caregiver can use skillful redirection to get seniors to return home without becoming angry or agitated.
Confusion About Tasks
As much as you would like to be with your senior parent all the time it’s not possible when you have a job and other responsibilities. But if your senior parent is confused or forgetful when it comes to regular tasks they need a caregiver to make sure that they don’t do things like leave the water running and flood the house, or leave the gas burner lit on the stove, or leave food in the toaster oven. If your senior loved one is starting to be a danger to themselves because they are confused about everyday tasks they need Alzheimer’s care.
