Dementia In Home Care Services in Columbia, SCIn Home Care for Dementia Patients in Columbia, SC
Dementia can take a tremendous toll on your elderly loved ones or relatives. It can affect “one in 10 people over age 65 and nearly half of people over age 85.” Caring for their daily needs can become a daunting challenge. At Hands and Hearts Home Care in Columbia, South Carolina, we can provide relief and help ease those burdens for you. We have a talented team of patient caregivers that will help calm any anxieties you and your loved ones may face Quality Care Hands and Hearts Home Care provides in home care for dementia patients in Columbia, In home care in Lexington, home Care in Gilbert, and home health services in Columbia. Caring for your loved ones is our passion, and we provide excellent service as we seek to understand the unique requirements of each of our clients. When it feels like your situation is too much to handle on your own, let us step in and offer the relief you need so that you can care for your loved one on the emotional levels they deserve. Schedule an appointment today by calling the number below! Quote: "How Common Is Alzheimer's Disease? - Alzheimer's Disease." Sharecare. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Aug. 2016.
Alzheimer's In Home Care Services in Columbia, SCWe know that providing daily care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s can be a daunting challenge. At Hands and Hearts Home Care, we understand the kind of burden this can place on you and your other family members as you work to provide for them. Our team is familiar and well acquainted with those struggles, and our caregivers are highly trained and capable of overcoming those challenges. When the burden becomes too difficult for you to handle, we’re here to step in and offer much needed relief, allowing you to rest and relax. Have the assurance that your loved one is safe, and being securely cared for in the comfort of their most familiar surroundings: home.
Scroll down for more helpful information about Dementia Care in Columbia! Quality Care Being at home helps keep Alzheimer’s patients feeling comfortable and safe--just another benefit of working with Hands and Hearts Home Care. During our consultations, we spend time getting to know your loved one’s needs and develop a plan that will provide them with the highest quality of care. We aim to make life as normal and enjoyable as possible by assisting with mobility, personal grooming, meal preparation and other daily needs. You’re not in this alone. Let Hands and Hearts Home Care partner with you to help care for your loved ones! Call today for more information, and be sure to download your Free Brochure when you complete the contact form on the right side of this page! |
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Everything You Need To Know about Dementia Care
Dementia is a general term that refers to a serious loss of mental abilities such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, and communicating. It is not a normal part of aging. As dementia advances, these losses make it difficult for a person to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease.
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive, degenerative, and irreversible disease that causes tangled nerve fibers and protein deposits to form in the brain. There is no known cause of AD, and there is no cure. People with Alzheimer’s disease will never recover and will need more care as the disease progresses.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear gradually. It generally begins with memory loss. Each person will show different signs at different times. For example, one person with AD may continue to read, but not be able to use the phone. Another may lose the ability to read, but can still do simple math. Skills a person has used often over a lifetime are usually kept longer. Thus some people with Alzheimer’s disease can cook or play an instrument with some help long after they have lost much of their memory. As the disease progresses, the symptoms get worse. They may become disoriented and confused about time and place. Communication problems are common, and mood and behavior can change. Alzheimer’s disease progresses to complete loss of all ability to care for oneself.
Stages of AD and What They Mean
Alzheimer's Disease consists of three main stages: mild (early-stage), moderate, and severe (late-stage). In Mild AD, people often have some memory loss and small changes in their personality. They may forget recent events or the names of familiar people or things. They may no longer be able to solve math problems or balance a checkbook. Those with mild AD also slowly lose the ability to plan and organize. For example, they may have trouble making a grocery list and finding items in the store.
Moderate Alzheimer's Disease is the middle stage. Memory loss and confusion become more obvious. People have more trouble organizing, planning, and following instructions. They may need help getting dressed and may start having problems with controlling their bladder and/or bowels. People with moderate-stage AD may have trouble recognizing family members and friends or even what day and year it is. They may become restless, have trouble sleeping and begin repeating movements late in the day. Personality changes can become more serious during this stage. Individuals may make threats, accuse others of stealing, curse, kick, hit, bite, scream, or grab things. They also may lack judgment and begin to wander. Therefore, people with moderate AD should not be left alone.
Severe Alzheimer's Disease is the last stage of Alzheimer's and ends in the death of the person. In this stage, people often need help with all their daily needs. They may not be able to walk or sit up without help. They may not be able to talk, often cannot recognize family members and may have trouble swallowing and refuse to eat.
Communication is hard for people with AD because they have trouble remembering things. They may struggle to find words or forget what they want to say. You may feel impatient and wish they could just say what they want, but they can't. It may help you to know more about common communication problems caused by AD. Once you know more, you'll have a better sense of how to cope.
Here are some communication problems caused by AD:
— From "The Loss of Self"
To encourage the person with AD to communicate with you:
AD is being diagnosed at earlier stages. This means that many people are aware of how the disease is affecting their memory. Here are tips on how to help someone who knows that he or she has memory problems:
" Evenings are hard for many people with AD. Some may become restless or irritable around dinnertime. This restlessness is called "sundowning." It may even be hard to get the person to go to bed and stay there. Here are some tips that may help:
Work with the symptoms and behaviors noting each person with Alzheimer’s disease is an individual. People with AD will not all show the same symptoms at the same times. Each person will do some things that others may never do. The best plan is to work with the behaviors that are seen on any particular day. Be aware of difficulties associated with caregiving, being mindful that caring for someone with dementia can be physically and emotionally exhausting We should take care of ourselves so that we can continue to provide the best care to our clients.
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive, degenerative, and irreversible disease that causes tangled nerve fibers and protein deposits to form in the brain. There is no known cause of AD, and there is no cure. People with Alzheimer’s disease will never recover and will need more care as the disease progresses.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear gradually. It generally begins with memory loss. Each person will show different signs at different times. For example, one person with AD may continue to read, but not be able to use the phone. Another may lose the ability to read, but can still do simple math. Skills a person has used often over a lifetime are usually kept longer. Thus some people with Alzheimer’s disease can cook or play an instrument with some help long after they have lost much of their memory. As the disease progresses, the symptoms get worse. They may become disoriented and confused about time and place. Communication problems are common, and mood and behavior can change. Alzheimer’s disease progresses to complete loss of all ability to care for oneself.
Stages of AD and What They Mean
Alzheimer's Disease consists of three main stages: mild (early-stage), moderate, and severe (late-stage). In Mild AD, people often have some memory loss and small changes in their personality. They may forget recent events or the names of familiar people or things. They may no longer be able to solve math problems or balance a checkbook. Those with mild AD also slowly lose the ability to plan and organize. For example, they may have trouble making a grocery list and finding items in the store.
Moderate Alzheimer's Disease is the middle stage. Memory loss and confusion become more obvious. People have more trouble organizing, planning, and following instructions. They may need help getting dressed and may start having problems with controlling their bladder and/or bowels. People with moderate-stage AD may have trouble recognizing family members and friends or even what day and year it is. They may become restless, have trouble sleeping and begin repeating movements late in the day. Personality changes can become more serious during this stage. Individuals may make threats, accuse others of stealing, curse, kick, hit, bite, scream, or grab things. They also may lack judgment and begin to wander. Therefore, people with moderate AD should not be left alone.
Severe Alzheimer's Disease is the last stage of Alzheimer's and ends in the death of the person. In this stage, people often need help with all their daily needs. They may not be able to walk or sit up without help. They may not be able to talk, often cannot recognize family members and may have trouble swallowing and refuse to eat.
Communication is hard for people with AD because they have trouble remembering things. They may struggle to find words or forget what they want to say. You may feel impatient and wish they could just say what they want, but they can't. It may help you to know more about common communication problems caused by AD. Once you know more, you'll have a better sense of how to cope.
Here are some communication problems caused by AD:
- Trouble finding the right word when speaking
- Problems understanding what words mean
- Problems paying attention during long conversations
- Loss of train-of-thought when talking
- Make eye contact to get his or her attention, and call the person by name.
- Be aware of your tone and how loud your voice is, how you look at the person, and your "body language." Body language is the message you send just by the way you hold your body. For example, if you stand with your arms folded very tightly, you may send a message that you are tense or angry.
- Encourage a two-way conversation for as long as possible. This helps the person with AD feel better about himself or herself.
- Use other methods besides speaking to help the person, such as gentle touching to guide him or her.
- Try distracting someone with AD if communication creates problems. For example, offer a fun activity such as a snack or a walk around the neighborhood.
— From "The Loss of Self"
To encourage the person with AD to communicate with you:
- Show a warm, loving, matter-of-fact manner.
- Hold the person's hand while you talk.
- Be open to the person's concerns, even if they are hard to understand.
- Let him or her make some decisions and stay involved.
- Be patient with angry outbursts. Remember, it's the illness "talking."
- If you become frustrated, take a "timeout" for yourself.
- Offer simple, step-by-step instructions.
- Repeat instructions and allow more time for a response. Try not to interrupt.
- Don't talk about the person as if he or she isn't there.
AD is being diagnosed at earlier stages. This means that many people are aware of how the disease is affecting their memory. Here are tips on how to help someone who knows that he or she has memory problems:
- Take time to listen. The person may want to talk about the changes he or she is noticing.
- Be as sensitive as you can. Don't just correct the person every time he or she forgets something or says something odd. Try to understand that it's a struggle for the person to communicate.
- Be patient when someone with AD has trouble finding the right words or putting feelings into words.
- Help the person find words to express thoughts and feelings
- Be careful not to put words in the person's mouth or "fill in the blanks" too quickly.
- As people lose the ability to talk clearly, they may rely on other ways to communicate their thoughts and feelings. For example, their facial expressions may show sadness, anger, or frustration. Grasping at their undergarments may tell you they need to use the bathroom.
" Evenings are hard for many people with AD. Some may become restless or irritable around dinnertime. This restlessness is called "sundowning." It may even be hard to get the person to go to bed and stay there. Here are some tips that may help:
- Help the person get exercise each day, limit naps, and make sure the person gets enough rest at night. Being overly tired can increase late-afternoon and nighttime restlessness.
- Plan activities that use more energy early in the day. For example, try bathing in the morning or having the largest family meal in the middle of the day.
- Set a quiet, peaceful mood in the evening to help the person relax. Keep the lights low, try to reduce the noise levels, and play soothing music if he or she enjoys it.
- Try to have the person go to bed at the same time each night. A bedtime routine, such as reading out loud, also may help.
- Limit caffeine.
- Use nightlights in the bedroom, hall, and bathroom.
- Do not take things personally. Alzheimer’s Disease is a devastating mental and physical disorder and those with it do not have control over their words and actions. They may often be unaware of what they say or do. They may ignore, accuse, or insult others. When this happens, it is important to remember that the behavior is due to the disease.
- Be empathetic. It is helpful if we think about what it would be like to have Alzheimer’s Disease. Imagine being unable to do ADLs and being dependent on others for your care. It would be very frustrating for anyone to have no memory of recent events or to be unable to find words for what they want to say. We should treat people with AD with dignity and respect.
Work with the symptoms and behaviors noting each person with Alzheimer’s disease is an individual. People with AD will not all show the same symptoms at the same times. Each person will do some things that others may never do. The best plan is to work with the behaviors that are seen on any particular day. Be aware of difficulties associated with caregiving, being mindful that caring for someone with dementia can be physically and emotionally exhausting We should take care of ourselves so that we can continue to provide the best care to our clients.