In-Home Care for Alzheimer’s

When your loved one develops Alzheimer’s disease, it is an extremely difficult time for your family, as you come to terms with the fact that this disease will progress. As time goes on, your loved one will need help doing even the everyday things, like cleaning the house and cooking. After years of progression, Alzheimer’s is the type of disease that requires round the clock care. While you make the effort to be there as much as possible for your loved one, life gets in the way of being there as much as they need you to be. The best thing you can do for them is provide them with care from an agency you trust. You want to make sure the in-home care agency you plan on using actually specializes in Alzheimer’s care, like Right At Home in Tacoma, Washington, run by president Dale Anderson.

As the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation explains, Alzheimer’s is a complex disease with a lot of special needs. You want caregivers specifically trained in Alzheimer’s care, even those who are not registered nurses, so you can be sure your loved one is safe at all times with a professional. The Fisher Center separates Alzheimer’s in-home care into two categories: skilled and non-skilled. In the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s, you may only need to have non-skilled care. Due to the nature of Alzheimer’s, the memory is one of the first things to be impaired. Your loved one may have trouble performing tasks like driving, shopping, laundry, and cooking. Forgetting how to do these things and confusion can contribute to not being able to do these things at all, or even doing them dangerously. A common situation is an Alzheimer’s patient driving somewhere, going inside, and then forgetting either where the car is, or that he drove at all. They can become lost, even forgetting how to get home. It is during the initial progression from a bit of memory shortage here and there to that stage that care can be implemented. An agency like Right At Home would assign you a CNA, or certified nursing assistant, who would perform all these routine tasks, while providing companionship for your loved one, and purposefully stimulating intelligent conversation – an important exercise to keep the mind sharp for as long as possible. The CNA is trained to act in times of emergency, but they are not nurses with extensive medical training.

When your family member’s Alzheimer’s progresses, it may come to switch to skilled care, which a multi-service agency like Right At Home can transition to easily. Skilled care would be provided by an LPN, licensed practical nurse, or an RN, registered nurse, and would include the everyday work and companionship that non-skilled care includes, plus close medical attention. These nurses can provide constant consultation on your loved one’s condition, assessing and diagnosing (with a physician’s direction) symptoms and changes, and they provide careful and exact monitoring of medication. These nurses will also provide wound care and catheter care, and can even provide therapies to maintain abilities like speech and respiratory functions. The nurses are not only certified by the schools they attended. They are then further trained by the agency to ensure top notch quality in care.

When finding a caregiver, there are a few things to ask the agency, in addition to your own personal questions. As far as payment goes, look into your options with your insurance agency, as usually they will cover a portion of the cost. Also, make sure the agency and all employees are insured and bonded, as is the case at Right At Home. Ask about the background checks and training done for the employees. Discuss the visiting schedule. Set either 24-hour care or a schedule, or if the visits will be less frequent, arrange to have the caregiver call you first or feel free to stop by, whichever suits your preferences. Make sure the agency sticks to the same aides when sending care. Find out if there is a minimum amount of visiting hours you must contract for per week. And look into all fees as sometimes agencies have higher fees for weekends and/or holidays.

Make sure you trust the agency, as they will be providing care for your loved one, who you want to be safe at all times. Ask as many questions as it takes for you to feel comfortable. And again, look for an agency that specializes and has expertise in Alzheimer’s care.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.