Help & Care For Those Living With Alzheimer's Disease
If a loved one is suffering from the effects of Alzheimer's disease, then you already know how difficult it can be to deal with this disorder, both for the person who has the disease and for those who care for him or her. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and it affects as many as five million Americans.
This is a diagnosis that no one wants to hear, but it is important to note that there are many support groups today that can help you and the person living with Alzheimer's to deal with the many changes that will be happening. It can be very overwhelming at first, but talking to people who are going through the same situation can be very helpful and comforting and can help you create a plan of action to make life as easy as possible.
If diagnosis was made fairly early on, then some medicines have been shown to slow down the effects of Alzheimer's, so this might be a good first option. However, the heartbreaking truth is that eventually the disease is going to reach a point where providing care is completely overwhelming. Not only might your loved one not remember you a good amount of the time, they might be quite resistant to care. At this point, it can be best for everyone if you begin looking for alternative care options.
Your budget can be the biggest factor in your search for care placement. Assisted living can be an excellent option because your loved one can maintain some independence, living in a small apartment that is very homelike. There are also many activities available at assisted living communities as well as many opportunities to be social. Of course, the daily care and security is probably what you are also quite concerned about, and an assisted living home that caters to those living with dementia will have security cameras and alarms in place. In addition, the staff that works in the dementia care area of the community will be trained to help those with dementia, and the apartments should be set up to be safe and as stress-free as possible for the resident. The staff also will ensure that medications are taken, that the resident is eating well and that grooming and personal chores are being accomplished on a daily basis.
The downside to assisted living is the cost, as these facilities often cost as much as $3,000 per month, or more and rarely can you use Medi-Cal to pay for even a portion of the monthly costs. There are some board & care facilities that specialize in taking residents with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. These are private homes that can take up to six residents, and sometimes this is a less expensive option to consider. An in-home caregiver also can be hired, providing near-constant care, and this is another option to consider.
Of course, for many people living on a fixed income, there isn't enough money available to pay for either of these options, and they will need to find a place where Medi-Cal will covers a portion of the monthly cost. The type of facility in this case would be a nursing home, which is also called a skilled nursing facility. As far as ambiance goes, a nursing home can seem depressing, but many facilities try very hard to make life there as pleasant as possible, providing activities and improving the decor to make it more homey and comfortable. At any rate, a nursing home will provide constant care and generally very good security. Nurses and medical personnel are on hand 24/7 to provide care, and the staff will help with all the personal care, and meals, laundry service and housekeeping also are all included. Just be sure to visit several facilities and find one that offers the best possible care in the best possible setting.
This is a diagnosis that no one wants to hear, but it is important to note that there are many support groups today that can help you and the person living with Alzheimer's to deal with the many changes that will be happening. It can be very overwhelming at first, but talking to people who are going through the same situation can be very helpful and comforting and can help you create a plan of action to make life as easy as possible.
If diagnosis was made fairly early on, then some medicines have been shown to slow down the effects of Alzheimer's, so this might be a good first option. However, the heartbreaking truth is that eventually the disease is going to reach a point where providing care is completely overwhelming. Not only might your loved one not remember you a good amount of the time, they might be quite resistant to care. At this point, it can be best for everyone if you begin looking for alternative care options.
Your budget can be the biggest factor in your search for care placement. Assisted living can be an excellent option because your loved one can maintain some independence, living in a small apartment that is very homelike. There are also many activities available at assisted living communities as well as many opportunities to be social. Of course, the daily care and security is probably what you are also quite concerned about, and an assisted living home that caters to those living with dementia will have security cameras and alarms in place. In addition, the staff that works in the dementia care area of the community will be trained to help those with dementia, and the apartments should be set up to be safe and as stress-free as possible for the resident. The staff also will ensure that medications are taken, that the resident is eating well and that grooming and personal chores are being accomplished on a daily basis.
The downside to assisted living is the cost, as these facilities often cost as much as $3,000 per month, or more and rarely can you use Medi-Cal to pay for even a portion of the monthly costs. There are some board & care facilities that specialize in taking residents with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. These are private homes that can take up to six residents, and sometimes this is a less expensive option to consider. An in-home caregiver also can be hired, providing near-constant care, and this is another option to consider.
Of course, for many people living on a fixed income, there isn't enough money available to pay for either of these options, and they will need to find a place where Medi-Cal will covers a portion of the monthly cost. The type of facility in this case would be a nursing home, which is also called a skilled nursing facility. As far as ambiance goes, a nursing home can seem depressing, but many facilities try very hard to make life there as pleasant as possible, providing activities and improving the decor to make it more homey and comfortable. At any rate, a nursing home will provide constant care and generally very good security. Nurses and medical personnel are on hand 24/7 to provide care, and the staff will help with all the personal care, and meals, laundry service and housekeeping also are all included. Just be sure to visit several facilities and find one that offers the best possible care in the best possible setting.
About the Author:
Kristana Jenson likes reading home health care blogs. For more information about assisted living Escondido facilities or for professional help finding board and care Carlsbad services, please check out the CarePlacement website now.