Having a loved one suffer from dementia or Alzheimer's Disease is one of the toughest things to go through. But many options are available to bring peace to everyone. Seeking 24-hour in-home care is a popular option that allows a patient to be in comfortable and familiar surroundings, even with memory loss.
In-home care brings patients both more happiness and a chance to tap into memories that may be fading due to illness. When finding a quality home caregiver, they have the skills to help those with a fading memory stay active at many levels.
Take a look at these three methods often used to help with memory loss and to continue a good quality of life.
1. Creating Companionship
Hiring a 24-hour in-home caregiver to live with a loved one who has dementia should ease a family's mind. If the proper candidate is chosen, the patient has a chance to bond with someone when family members cannot be present.
Companionship helps those with dementia express their feelings by getting close to someone. Many who have dementia and Alzheimer's Disease experience feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Creating a special bond is the reason caretaking is a meaningful career for many. And the ability of a parent or other relative to express their feelings to someone at any time of the day or night will give the family a feeling of security.
2. Getting Things Organized
Finding a caretaker who can help organize a loved one’s life while dealing with their memory issues is vital. An experienced caretaker will help the patient put together notebooks or digital files to keep their life orderly. Such a system helps keep track of friends’ names, appointments, medications, and bills.
Organizing gives the patient confidence while ensuring lapses don’t occur. Mobile devices make this even easier.
Working together also enhances the friendship and companionship caretakers offer.
3. Tapping Into Existing Talents
Alzheimer's patients can be coaxed into doing artistic things they enjoyed when they were younger like dancing, playing piano, or creating artwork.
An effective caretaker will help guide the patient dealing with memory decline toward these activities. Tapping into memories of dancing, for instance, can help bring out abilities that never really went away.
One endearing story was of a Tucson woman with dementia who was able to play piano perfectly once again when she played duets with her husband.
Contact us at Senior Helpers Tucson East if you need assistance for your aging loved one. We serve those throughout East Tucson, including Tanque Verde, Sabino Canyon, Pima County, and beyond.