Caring for Seniors with Dementia: Options?
By Holly Klamer
If one of your loved one has dementia, you know how challenging it can be to deal with this degenerative illness.
Dementia can affect many different aspects of a senior’s life, from memory to conversation to coordination.
Seniors with dementia can live a comfortable life, but it’s very important that they get the care and senior living help that they need.
Here are some of your options if you are caring for a senior who struggles with dementia.
Respite Care
If your senior only struggles with mild dementia, you may be able to manage their symptoms on your own.
However, it’s important that you have the resources available to you to take breaks as needed, since caring for someone with dementia can be quite stressful. This is where respite care comes in handy.
Respite care is a form of temporary care that can be used for short periods of time. You can either hire a respite caregiver to come to your house, or you can look for respite care at a local senior center.
Many senior community centers offer respite care either just during the day or at night as well. This will allow you to take time to focus on work or even take a vacation, while ensuring that your senior still has the care that they need.
In-home Care
Many seniors need extensive additional care to manage dementia, but don’t want a change of scenery, which can be overwhelming for patients who struggle with memory loss.
Contacting a home health agency near you and hiring an in-home caregiver is often the best way to manage this situation.
These caregivers can help dementia patients manage many aspects of their daily routine. They will ensure that they are kept clean and safe throughout the day by providing help with dressing, bathing, and grooming, and can also help with cleaning and cooking at home. They can run errands for seniors and ensure that they take their medication and get enough exercise.
An in-home caregiver can even help seniors stay engaged throughout the day with activities that are fun without being overwhelming.
Assisted Living
Many assisted living facilities provide dementia care services for seniors in a safe environment.
Assisted living facilities provide many of the same services that an in-home caregiver would provide, but there are typically more resources on site to ensure that dementia patients stay safe and healthy.
While assisted living facilities don’t traditionally provide medical care on-site, they offer a variety of health resources that are designed to stimulate and care for seniors with memory problems.
Assisted living for dementia patients is the most comprehensive form of care available to manage this disease. Instead of just one caregiver, seniors have access to an entire staff of professionals trained in treating dementia.
If you have a family member or friend who is struggling with dementia, make sure they are getting the help that they need.
Dementia progresses naturally over time, but with the right care, this process can be slowed, which helps seniors enjoy a higher quality of life for a longer period of time.
Whether you live in a small town or big city, there are many dementia care options available nowadays, so you can find care personalized to your loved one’s needs. Many dementia care programs are even partially covered by insurance to make the process easier and more affordable.
If you are struggling to find the care you need, talk to your doctor or to local senior centers in your area. They may be able to recommend you an appropriate care provider.
Author Bio
Holly Klamer is a freelance writer
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