What care does your loved one with a neurological illness need to continue living a happy and healthy life? Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s are long-term conditions that usually require extensive monitoring and support. In addition to medical attention, seniors with these conditions often need help with daily tasks such as bathing, eating, and remaining mentally grounded. For many spouses or family members, this degree of constant care can be overwhelming or impossible to provide. That’s where an in-home caregiver steps in.
In-home care is the best solution for many people suffering from extended conditions which impact their quality of life. At Generations Home Care, our caregivers are trained to the highest standards to meet your loved one’s needs with dignity and respect. Here’s what an in-home caregiver can do to provide the best care to seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s.
The Components of Care
Parkinson’s, dementia, and Alzheimer’s are neurological conditions affecting memory and mobility. In earlier stages, dementia affects cognitive factors such as planning, concentration, organization, and memory. In the later stages of dementia, patients may respond more to sensory input than words. They will likely not be able to care for their own basic needs and require constant supervision.
While Parkinson’s is not strictly a memory disorder, it usually has cognitive effects. As with dementia, people with Parkinson’s can have trouble sleeping, memory difficulties, depression, and personality changes. Parkinson’s also results in a loss of fine motor control and difficulty walking or talking. Both the mental and physical effects make it difficult for people with Parkinson’s to maintain their quality of life while living alone.
What Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and other forms of dementia have in common is that they all have a severe impact on a person’s ability to stay healthy and independent. Because these illnesses are chronic and unlikely to improve, regular and long-term care is usually necessary for the rest of a person’s life.
Communication and Memory
Because dementia and Parkinson’s are neurological conditions, they can make it difficult for people to communicate their intentions or desires. At Generations Home Care, our caregivers train extensively in communicating with seniors who may struggle to make their needs understood. In addition, memory care services such as keeping your parent engaged and oriented can help manage symptoms. Having another person nearby to keep them grounded can be an enormous help for seniors struggling with memory.
Housekeeping
People with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s often struggle to keep the house clean. This can lead to several issues, some of which can pose a hazard to health or safety. If your loved one can no longer do the dishes consistently, food waste can begin to attract pests and give off unpleasant odors. Tripping hazards and other fall risks often go unnoticed until the worst has already happened. An in-home caregiver can keep the house tidy and clean to ensure the home is a safe place for your older relative to stay.
Daily Life Services
Conditions with cognitive impacts can make it difficult for seniors to stay on top of daily life tasks. Preparing food, bathing, and using the bathroom can become significant challenges to people living with long-term chronic conditions. An in-home caregiver can ensure that your loved one has all their essential needs met with dignity.
The Benefits of In-Home Care
While many seniors begin to require more intensive levels of care as they age, most want to avoid transitioning to a live-in facility for as long as possible. Aging in place allows seniors to maintain a higher quality of life in a home they find comforting and familiar. The COVID-19 pandemic has also shown that long-term care facilities can become hotspots for infectious disease. This is another compelling reason for seniors to want to stay in their own residences.
Though over three-quarters of adults over 50 want to stay in their homes as they age, many factors can make aging in place unattainable for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s. People with these conditions will often need constant care and supervision to stay oriented and healthy. Falls, poor nutrition, and loneliness are serious dangers to seniors living at home, even without chronic health issues. In many cases a family caregiver may step in to take that role, but the task is a difficult one. On top of caregiving’s demanding physical and time commitment, having to adjust to a new relationship with an older loved one is often an emotionally challenging process.
While Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s all take a toll on a person’s ability to live alone, they don’t have to mean the end to independence. Our team recognizes that each person’s needs and priorities are different. That’s why we train our caregivers to provide a wide variety of services. We believe that in-home care should be as comprehensive as possible, from meals and bathing to companionship and transportation. We focus on remaining abilities rather than perceived disabilities to ensure your loved one gets the compassionate and personalized care they deserve.
About Generations Home Care
Generations Home Care personalized in-home care and support services help those recovering from illness, injury, or surgery, living with a chronic disease, or dealing with the natural process of aging. We help people live a fuller, healthier, and independent life.
Our caregivers are trained in the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended COVID-19 safety precautions. We offer levels of care ranging from companionship, to respite for the primary family caregiver, to homemaking services, to assistance with activities of daily living, to Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Generations Home Care takes a holistic approach and emphasizes a consistent, client-centered plan of care.
Our Specialty Services Include:
- Rehab or hospital-to-home programs for safe discharge.
- Short-term post-operative care during recovery periods.
- Non-medical life management services for people with chronic conditions.
- Veteran’s connection to care program.
- Live-in services and couples care.
If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you, contact us today at 602-595-HOME (4663) or by filling out the contact form on our website.
