Is It Beneficial To Keep An Elderly Loved One With Dementia At Home?
“Home sweet home” is a long-standing adage that will never lose its meaning. The same goes for “there’s no place like home” which, of course, carries the same connotation. No matter what stage of life you are in, your home will always be your “sweet” sanctuary – a place of comfort, safety and familiarity. Naturally, “home” is also a place filled with love as it regularly inhabits members of your family.
This is why many senior citizens much prefer to age in place than to reside in assisted living facilities. For those with either mobility issues or mental disabilities, the home becomes even more important. This is especially true for seniors living with dementia.
According to Healthline.com, dementia is a syndrome, unlike its counterpart Alzheimer’s, which is a disease. A syndrome, notes the source, is when a group of symptoms doesn’t lead to a specific diagnosis. “Dementia is an overall term used to describe symptoms that impact memory, performance of daily activities, and communication abilities,” says the website.
What steps should be taken to assist a dementia sufferer at home?
As we’ve pointed out in a number of our past blogs, there are many ways to make an elderly person with dementia live comfortably at home. In our “Dementia Home Care Tips” blog, we highlighted the importance of making your home as fall-proof as possible by clearing away such items as shoes, clothes, wires and throw rugs. We also pointed out how important it is to maintain predictable daily routines to assist your elderly loved one with his/her memory.
Gerry Gatto of Senior Homecare by Angels advises caregivers to schedule difficult tasks, such as bathing or medical appointments, for the time of day when your family member tends to be the most calm and agreeable. Over time, if your family member experiences behavioural changes or frustration in the evening, you may need to switch some routines like bathing to the morning.
Can a family successfully keep their loved one at home when they suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s?
The answer is yes – as long as you have the help of properly trained health care staff. With Senior Homecare by Angels as your home care provider, you will enjoy personalized service through tailored care programs built around your loved ones needs. Our team is very experienced working with families and is happy to work with your loved one’s schedule.
Subsidized funding for home care is available from the Self-Managed Care program from Alberta Health Services. It certainly doesn’t hurt to get in touch to learn more as it may help to greatly offset the costs of keeping your mom or dad in a familiar environment.
What does the AHS Self-Managed Care program cover?
According to the AHS brochure, self-managed care funds are available to cover such services as personal care which includes assistance with personal hygiene, dressing, toileting, mobilization and transferring, eating, oral care and medication management. They also cover home support services including the preparation of meals, homemaking, and recreation activities.
Respite care is also covered. This includes day, evening or night care to give unpaid caregivers (generally family) a break from caregiving. Such one-on-one care benefits both yourself and your elderly loved one with dementia.
If you’d like more information about our Dementia Care Service, please don’t hesitate to call the Senior Homecare by Angels team and be sure to ask us about our no charge in home consultation. We are available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You may call us at 403-862-0129 or toll-free at 1-877-209-6142, if you are outside of Calgary. You may also visit our Contact Us page to complete and submit a simple contact form to have us contact you.
Gerry Gatto is a trained health care administrator and the owner of Senior Homecare® By Angels a Calgary – based company. Helping Calgary seniors remain in their home and maintain their independence with the assistance of dedicated caregiver.