Why Choose Live-In Care
for Dementia Patients?
Caring for the elderly requires several levels. Some only need a few hours of companionship—during day time, doctor visits and other social activities. Others with physical disabilities or those who suffer from age-related illnesses like dementia call for 24-hour care. Let’s discuss this to understand why you have to choose live-in care for dementia patients.
What is Dementia?
Dementia is a decline in cognitive health. Patients who suffer from it lose reasoning, memory, and other mental functions. It is not a normal part of aging. Oftentimes, the decline is progressive enough to cause the inability to do activities of daily living. This is why you have to choose live-in care for dementia patients. A caregiver can assist in personal care like dressing, bathing, and feeding.
In the data released by the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 47 million people in the world suffer from dementia. By 2030, the number will increase to 75 million, with almost 10 million new cases annually.
What Causes Dementia?
Dementia can result from different causes. Some medical illnesses can present dementia symptoms, particularly in the elderly. Dementia can due to stroke, drugs, head injuries, and nutritional deficiencies.
Furthermore, the illness reflects the dysfunction of the cerebral cortex. This part of the brain is responsible for controlling memory, language, perception, thoughts, and consciousness. Studies note that some diseases damage is not permanent, dementia may be reversible. With this, the physician must identify dementia as either reversible or irreversible to help family members understood the medical condition.
What are the Early Signs and Symptoms of Dementia?
While symptoms may vary from patient to patient, most patients with dementia exhibit any of the following early symptoms:
- Difficulty in finding words and communicating with other people
- Inability to focus and pay attention
- Forgetting names and appointments
- Often losing things
- Inability to perform familiar tasks like cooking, driving, and bathing
- Sudden personality changes
- Mood swings with brief bursts of anger
- The decline in accomplishing established routines
- Poor judgment
- Confusion or disorientation in unfamiliar environments
- Inability to multitask
What Can I Do to Help My Loved Ones with Dementia?
Individuals with early dementia can still live independently. However, some patients with more severe symptoms may need to have someone with them at all times. This is because they need help accomplishing activities of daily living. This may include cooking, bathing, feeding and taking medications. Others opt to move their loved one to the home of a family caregiver or a care home facility. Oftentimes, family members hire in-home caregivers who are well-trained in providing dementia care.
Why Choose Live-In Care for Dementia Patients?
Answer:
- Peace of mind for the family, seeing their loved ones every day and knowing that a caregiver is there to provide 24-hour care
- Continued independence, because moving patients with dementia away from home will make them feel like they’ve lost their freedom
- The reduced cost, because you only need to pay for the in-home caregiver; unlike in a care home where you have to spend on food and accommodation
- Staying in the same place and community and close to family and friends, making them feel comfortable and safe
- Focused care, as the in-home caregivers are providing one-to-one care
If you choose live-in care for dementia patients, you will need the help of an in-home caregiver who is an expert in taking care of seniors with dementia. Aside from getting help from daily activities, they also know how to best take care of them and more importantly, communicate with them. You may call us for a free assessment.
