Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be one of the hardest things you do. In 2016, 15 million Americans provided unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s. One of the challenges that you will face is deciding when you will need to find Alzheimer’s home care assistance for the most important people in your life. Keeping your loved one in their home may be a good option since they are already familiar with it.
There are a few questions to ask yourself when deciding if it’s time for the next step.
- What is the physical state of your loved one? Do they have proper hygiene? Have they lost weight? Are they taking their medications? As the disease progresses they may need more care than you can provide. In this case, 24-hour care could be necessary.
- What is the state of the home? Are the dishes being done and the garbage being taken out? This may indicate that everyday activities have become too hard for your loved one to manage.
- Is your family member wandering? Wandering in the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease can pose a health risk and increase the chances of falls and injuries.
- Is there aggression? Physical and verbal aggression can be present in those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, and once it gets to that state family members can suffer and even become resentful of their loved ones.
- Are the needs more than you can handle? It may just get to the point that you need to ask yourself the honest question – if this is too much. Perhaps this person’s care is beyond your physical abilities. If they fall are you able to pick them up? Maybe you don’t live close by and the constant travel is draining.
- Are you stressed? Sometimes it’s not all about your loved one but your ongoing stress can be a sign that it’s time to allow someone else to take care of them. Trouble sleeping and poor nutrition are examples of problems that can develop when the stress is taking a toll. You may also have other emotions. Do you feel isolated or alone? You may even feel guilt over the fact that you aren’t doing enough to care for your family member. Your health is important too and when your caregiver responsibilities are affecting your emotional and physical health it can be time for the next steps.
Choosing the right Alzheimer’s home care assistance can make this difficult decision easier. When contacting facilities to provide home care assistance make sure you have the names of their physician, any diagnoses and other behavior care needs as well as any insurance coverage for long-term care. You will also want to have a list of care needs. Make sure you interview at the home or have an in-home consultation. Don’t be afraid to have a third person there so you can discuss and feel confident in your decision on this next step.
