March 13, 2019
Caring for someone with dementia is never something that can be done alone. Learn why here.
While an incredible number of seniors are dealing with the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease, an even greater number of family members are struggling with caring for someone with dementia. Surprisingly, nearly 75% of family caretakers are managing their senior loved ones’ dementia care needs on their own, with only 26% seeking professional care services.
Naturally, families want to do all they can to satisfy their loved ones’ needs, but caring for a loved one with dementia can lead to an extremely high level of both mental and physical stress. This takes a toll on the caretakers’ own overall health over the years, specifically once the disease progresses. And lots of family caregivers assume there’s an all-or-nothing approach: either manage their loved one’s needs at home, or face moving him or her into residential care.
Continuum, providers of the best home health St. Louis, MO and the surrounding area offers, has an alternative that is advantageous for seniors with dementia in addition to their family caregivers: the addition of a certified in-home dementia caregiver to give as much respite care as needed. Here’s why we believe that dementia care at home is best:
- Highly skilled care. Because our care providers are both trained and experienced in the many intricate facets of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, they will proactively handle and more successfully manage even the most challenging of behaviors, such as wandering, aggression, sundowning, and others.
- Improved safety. The possibility of accidents is heightened for anyone with dementia. Even something that seems as uncomplicated as helping your loved one in to the shower or onto the toilet can create a dangerous fall risk. Professional caregivers know how to watch out for and prevent falls, keeping both you and your family member safe from harm.
- Sustainable aging in place. Frequently, family caretakers become so overwhelmed trying to meet each one of a senior loved one’s needs in tandem with their own that a relocation to a residential dementia care facility seems inevitable. However, partnering with an expert dementia care provider opens up the possibility of long-term, beneficial care in the home.
- Peace of mind. Understanding your loved one is in skilled hands means that you can take a breath, relax, and step away from the stresses of caregiving for the essential breaks that relieve stress plus the prospect of caregiver burnout and depression.
It’s advisable to look into in-home options for caring for a loved one with dementia as early in the disease as you possibly can, to allow for an even more seamless transition and to be sure that your loved one has the best care from the start. Call us at (314) 863-9912 to request a consultation in the comfort of home, where we can create a highly personalized plan of care which will maximize wellbeing for your senior loved one today, and also as needs change in the future.