When your senior loved one has dementia, you have big decisions to make regarding how you plan his or care. While you have options available such as assisted living, many older adults prefer to continue living in their own homes. Aging in place has several benefits for your loved one as well as the rest of your family that are too important to overlook.
Assisted living residences and other types of dementia care programs try to keep their staff the same. However, they frequently have high turnover rates, which means the clients may have a constantly rotating set of caregivers. A high turnover rate poses a problem for continuity in care, and your loved one may also have difficulty communicating with new people as his or her symptoms progress. With in-home care, you get to keep the same caregivers for longer so your family can get to know them.
Older adults sometimes equate going to an assisted living facility with giving up their independence. Staying at home makes it feel less like things have changed. Your loved one may also have more room to move around and feel more comfortable doing tasks such as cooking. While your loved one may need a caregiver to keep him or her safe, he or she can remain independent for longer.
The cognitive challenges that accompany dementia often leave aging adults unable to manage everyday tasks, which puts their safety and health at risk. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of home care Denver, CO, families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Families often find the visiting hours at assisted living facilities hinder their ability to see their loved ones anytime they want, which is especially true if they work odd hours or only have the late evenings available to visit. Providing care for your loved one at home means no one can dictate when you see him or her. You’ll be able to visit any time you want, even if it’s overnight or on the weekends.
Dementia care facilities require seniors to live with others who have the same condition, and this often causes issues in a public setting. Having another resident accuse your loved one of theft or get inexplicably angry could cause your loved one to become hurt or confused. At home, you have more control over who spends time with your loved one each day.
Dementia can be challenging for seniors to manage, but they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional dementia care. Denver seniors can benefit greatly from the Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), an activities-based program designed to promote cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. CTM is included at no additional charge with any of the in-home care plans provided by Home Care Assistance.
If you’ve spoken with your loved one in the past about aging in place, you may have been told he or she prefers to stay at home. Your loved one may also be able to share personal preferences if he or she is in the earlier stages of the disease and understands what’s happening. Knowing you’ve respected your loved one’s wishes may give you peace of mind as he or she progresses through the later stages of the disease.
Keeping your loved one at home also means you’re able to stay informed about what happens. Seniors who live away from home spend many hours without family members being able to check on their wellbeing. When you can pop in whenever you like and talk to your loved one’s caregivers, you’ll feel more secure about the quality of care he or she is receiving.
Caring for a loved one with dementia is a challenging task for anyone. The responsibilities can sometimes feel overwhelming, but help is available. Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Denver home care service provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Rely on the professionals at Home Care Assistance to provide high-quality compassionate care for your loved one. Give us a call today at (720) 443-3371 to learn about our flexible in-home care plans.