A few years ago, a friend of mine went through the loss of his mother to Alzheimer’s disease. I remember talking to him after the funeral, and he mentioned that while his mother’s death was the hardest thing he had ever faced, he was glad his mother had truly exceptional Alzheimer’s home care in the months leading up to her death. death. All I could do was smile weakly and give him a hug. Later, however, I really started to think about what he had said.
Even after going through the worst pain he had ever experienced in his life, my friend had peace of mind knowing that the care his mother received while she was home in her final months was invaluable. I finally understood what he meant because I remember the year before I hired a home care aide being incredibly tense. My friend and his family seemed to disagree about everything to do with his mother, and unfortunately, her mother, despite being affected by the disease, felt responsible for making life more difficult for her. children of her That single revelation was devastating to everyone. Unfortunately, that was just the beginning. Perhaps the hardest thing they all had to realize was that they couldn’t handle the caretaker role.
We remember how our parents were there for us during all the great events of our lives, and we hope that we can return the favor in some way in the future. Sometimes, however, it is not as easy or possible. But don’t let that break you. Alzheimer’s will test everyone’s limits, and the last thing you want to do is be crestfallen so early in the game.
If you and your family are trying to decide if home care for Alzheimer’s disease is the way to go, think about this:
accidents and injuries – Are you starting to see more accidents when you’re not around to help? Is the risk of injury, especially its severity, growing day by day?
Wandering – Whether while grocery shopping or during family gatherings, does your loved one wander off? Is the probability of this behavior greater when they are alone?
Unable to provide proper care – Do you have to adjust work and school schedules to make your “shift” at your loved one’s house? Are you withdrawing from social activities? Do your communications with others only involve other family members about who is going on what date?
Alzheimer’s symptoms are getting worse – We often think of Alzheimer’s as a disease that makes you forget, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As time goes by, even with medication, the disease is taking its toll. At some point, you and your family just won’t be able to adequately care for your loved one. Are you at this point?
There really is no place like home, so when you begin to consider hiring a home care aide, you should consider the tremendous benefits of home care for Alzheimer’s disease. We may not know what tomorrow holds for our loved one as they deal with this terrible disease, but what we can do is do everything we can to find the right people to provide the best possible care for our loved one in a comfortable setting. give them peace. of the mind.