Dementia is the gradual decline of cognitive functions in an individual, such as the memory, communicative skills, or the ability to reason. It affects the patient’s intellectual and social skills quite drastically, and eventually daily life becomes difficult for them. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It is a degenerative disease with no cure, primarily affecting individuals over 65. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, the patient will likely be able to live on their own and function independently. However, it is the nature of the disease to progressively get worse, and eventually they will no longer be able to care for themselves.
Often times, the family of Alzheimer’s patients wish to keep them at home rather than in a hospital or other facility. This is possible, especially in the early stages. However, there are adjustments that must be made to make the home safe, and to ensure the patient is getting the care they need.
• They will need to be checked in on regularly by family or friends.
• Someone must ensure they are taking their medications as directed.
• The balance between safety and independence must be assessed frequently. While it may be important to the patient and their family for them to maintain their independence, their safety is the top priority.
• Minor modifications to the home may be required to ensure the patient’s safety. For example, area rugs might have to be removed to prevent falls, and grab bars in the bathroom could be helpful. Additionally, it may be necessary to keep locks on certain doors, and to disable the stove and other potentially dangerous appliances.
• Effort should be made to ensure the patient is physically, mentally and socially active. They should regularly engage in some form of exercise, even if it is just a daily walk. Mental stimulation, such as reading, doing puzzles and playing games, is known to slow the progress of some types of dementia. In addition, regular social interaction will likely improve their quality of life.
As the disease progresses further, the patient’s ability to be independent will decrease. A change in personality may be apparent; they might suffer from dramatic mood swings, they may be particularly irritable or uncharacteristically aggressive, and they could have significant difficulty communicating due to a language breakdown. At this point in the disease more frequent care will be required. The patient will likely be unable to complete any chores, or even maintain their own personal care. They may eventually have difficulty eating, and their food will have to be pureed or fed to them. Family members may take on these tasks, or the family may choose to hire a care aid to assist the patient. If it becomes too difficult to keep the Alzheimer’s patient in their home, there is the option of moving them into a retirement home or assisted-living environment. This is something many families choose to do, as being a caregiver for a loved one is extremely difficult, and it can be devastating for them to watch a loved one degenerate in their care.
Eventually, the symptoms of Alzheimer’s escalate from cognitive difficulties to other medical issues. Because the disease is degenerative, it gradually breaks down the body’s ability to perform mobility functions. It also breaks down the body’s organs so they are no longer able to function properly. Some examples of medical conditions that can affect Alzheimer’s patients are pressure ulcers, malnutrition, oral and dental disease, respiratory infections and eye infections. Eventually, professional treatment will be required for patients and in the final stages of Alzheimer’s, treatment focuses on relieving their discomfort for the remainder of their lives.
Karp Homecare offers caregivers that specialize with Alzheimer and Dementia care in Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Tri-Cities, North Vancouver, Surrey and Langley.