Challenges That Caregivers Face Caring for Alzheimer’s Patients
Home care for elderly and disabled aging in place. Photo courtesy of worradmu at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
An estimated 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease in America. According to The Alzheimer’s Association, in 2014 friends and family of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias provided an estimated 17.9 billion hours of unpaid care; a contribution to the nation valued at $217 billion. The caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients face great challenges providing care for this population. Not only is it difficult dealing with a parent, spouse or family member who has lost their short-term memory, it can be difficult trying to care for them as well. There are the additional challenges of trying to manage a loved one who doesn’t remember whether they ate, bathed, or took their medication, let alone remembering the time of day. Most caregivers have their own families to look after, so an extra person to care for can place undue stress on them.
There are many challenges that caregivers face while trying to care for Alzheimer’s patients.
You may admire friends who care for their parents who are aging in place, but you may not have realized just how much time it involves. You’ll have to get your loved one out of bed each morning, and bathed, dressed, and fed three times a day. You’ll be required to provide companionship in between meals and also ensure that they’re kept safe.
Caring for an Alzheimer’s patient is almost like caring for a child. You’ll have to ensure their safety around the home. While trying to maintain their independence and mobility, they may potentially trip and fall. They may try to leave the house in the middle of the night without even realizing it. Your home will literally have to be Alzheimer’s patient-proofed if home care is to be provided by a caregiver.
You may face the challenge of a loved one who is argumentative, and doesn’t understand the daily schedule, as they have forgotten it. They may wonder why lunch is late, when you fed them an hour ago. They may insist that they haven’t taken their medication yet, or that it is bedtime. Your challenge is to think up a way that helps them to stay on track with the daily schedule.
The impact of Alzheimer’s on a patient may differ. Some may accept it as a part of being old, while others may not be aware of it at all. Approximately 55% of people with Alzheimer’s go undiagnosed. Other people may become angry that their independence has been taken from them and they may resent the lack of privacy that they no longer have.
There are ways to help your loved ones to cope with the transition from independent to an Alzheimer’s needing full care. You’ll need to be patient, even if it means re-explaining the same set of routines several times a day.
Caring for an Alzheimer’s patient may be even more difficult than caring for someone with an infectious disease, or broken bones. Those conditions eventually heal, and you can return to a normal life but that is not the case with patients with Alzheimer’s.
If you’re finding that caring for parents who are aging in place or an ill spouse or loved one is becoming too much, yet you don’t wish to have them committed to a nursing home, home healthcare services may be the best solution for you. Home care allows Alzheimer’s patients to maintain a degree of their independence with the help of a dedicated caregiver who can ensure their safety and well-being.
In addition, if you just need respite care while providing home care to an Alzheimer’s patient, United Medical Care LLC can assist you. Contact us today to find out how we can help you to get your life back, while still enjoying the time with your loved one.
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