When Should Families of Dementia Patients Request In-Home Care?

When a family learns of a dementia diagnosis for a loved one, it is very difficult to handle. Sometimes, family members might think that their loved one is slowly slipping, but make excuses to justify their forgetfulness. “Oh, Dad just has a lot on his mind. I don’t think Mom heard the conversation correctly; that’s why she gave an off the wall response.” When a doctor confirms a dementia diagnosis, family members begin to realize that the long goodbye has already begun.

Dementia can manifest itself in more ways than just forgetfulness. Personalities can change, vocabulary can become vulgar, even when it is extremely uncharacteristic, and patients can quickly become fearful of the ones they love most. We have all heard of an elderly person accusing a son or daughter of stealing, mismanaging funds, and having self-interest at the forefront instead of genuine interest for the aging loved one. When dementia conditions worsen, families often wonder whether it is time to seek housing options for their failing relative.

For some, nursing homes are viable options, and for others, a change in their environment can worsen their condition. Sometimes it is best to hire an in-home dementia caregiver in place of moving a loved one to a nursing home in an effort to preserve both normalcy and dignity.

While dementia symptoms vary greatly, families and other loved ones might consider in-home care when the loved one does not recognize friends and family members, is unable to manage finances and medical care without assistance, and when they feel lost in their own home. These are just a few signs that the condition is getting worse and assistance in the home is necessary.

Sometimes those with dementia will forget to eat, shower, change clothes, etc. These are other signs that help is necessary. Toward the end of the disease, those with dementia might leave their home irrespective of the time of day and attempt to find their home- even though they have been there all along.

At Balanced Home Care, our in-home caregivers take precautionary measures to assist those with dementia with daily living skills and provide family members with peace of mind knowing their loved one is in good hands in the comfort of their own home. To learn more about the services we can provide to your loved one, contact us today to speak with on of our friendly staff.