Dementia is no minor issue when it comes to families and loved ones, who have been diagnosed with such a condition. However, if you have a parent or an elderly loved one with dementia, you need to know that there are ways to get help. One such is getting home care service.
The service itself allows the person with dementia to remain at home, while a professional caregiver will come on a pre-determined schedule. The idea is that the elderly individual will have someone by their side when you are not able to provide this yourself. The benefits are numerous:
- There is no need to go to a care home – unlike this popular option, home care is all about remaining in the comfort and familiarity of one’s home. Moving to a care home is a big change, which can be stressful and problematic in many ways. People with dementia often experience turmoil and exacerbation of their symptoms when they change environments. This is why being able to stay in their own home is such a big deal and home care is a fantastic service that allows just that.
- One-to-one care – care homes are often well-staffed, but since there are many residents there, the caregivers cannot pay attention to every single person. With home care, the care is one-to-one, ensuring that one single caregiver takes care of the needs of the person with dementia. This makes quite a difference long term.
- Flexible service – another important benefit of the service is that it scales with the needs of the person. For example, if they develop movement disability or anything else that requires more help, the service can be made more frequent. This is important for progressive conditions like dementia.
- It is safer – when it comes to home care, it should be pointed out that it is a much safer option. It is easier to adjust the environment to fit the needs of a person with dementia. According to research, people who resort to home care experience fewer falls, fewer injuries and fewer hospital admissions. This is a fine way to keep someone safe in the comfort of their own home.
- Closer monitoring of the condition – when it comes to dementia, the symptoms of it may progress and so some adjustments are needed. When a caregiver comes to visit the person with dementia regularly, it is easier to spot these changes and adjust accordingly. It could be that the person can no longer address simple tasks, or perhaps they need more attention. In any case, closer monitoring of the progression of the condition is available, which makes it easy to implement the necessary changes to the service.
- Less chance of the person wandering off – people with dementia often have the desire to wander off, especially in the second half of the day. It is called sundowning syndrome. With a caregiver by their side, the chance of this happening is slim. It can be dangerous for them to wander outside the home, as they may not remember how to come back. That is why it is a good thing to consider this form of care.
- Maintaining any routines – routine and familiarity are important for elderly individuals, especially those with dementia. Sudden changes can trigger confusion, stress, anger and more. With home care, they can keep their routines the same pretty much without any problem.
The benefits of home care are many and it is important to remember that it is a good option for anyone with loved ones with dementia.
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