Caring for a Parent with Dementia at Home

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe various diseases and injuries affecting the brain, including Alzheimer’s. This condition is typically progressive and eventually leaves people needing additional care as cognitive abilities continuously decline.  

In the United States, more than 16 million people are currently providing loved ones with more than 17 billion hours of care. Caregivers make it possible for approximately 80% of dementia patients to remain at home, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Are you caring for parents with dementia? This labor of love comes with a unique mix of rewarding experiences and challenges. For many people, the experience culminates with a need for additional help through respite care services or a more permanent move to an assisted living community.

Dementia and Elderly Care: What You Need to Know

In dementia’s early stages, a parent can remain very independent and may only require minimal assistance. As the disease progresses and the parent’s abilities decline, care becomes more challenging. Keeping a parent safe, happy, and healthy at home can seem overwhelming. It can also leave well-meaning caregivers burned out and dealing with unmet needs of their own.

Preparation and education can help smooth the way forward. Additional tips for preparing to step into a caregiving role include:

Learn About the Diagnosis

The more a caregiver knows about what to expect, the better prepared they can be for the uncertain journey ahead. Alzheimer’s and dementia-related support organizations and healthcare resources often provide support groups and educational meetings to help caregivers and families of those with dementia.

Start Preparing the Home

Even if a parent is independent and mobile now, it helps to start making the home safer before it becomes a necessity. Dementia and Alzheimer’s home care options inevitably require safety precautions that may increase with time. Consider the following during planning:

• Installing grab bars and supportive devices in the bathroom.
• Removing area rugs, clutter, and any cords on the floor to reduce falls.
• Upgrading to appliances with an automatic shut-off, adding stove knob covers, and monitoring areas where chemicals and tools are stored.
• Adding lighting to hallways, walkways, and rooms to avoid falls and prevent disorientation.
• Installing carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and checking them regularly.
• Transferring medications to a secure location and using a pill box organizer to make sure drugs are taken correctly.

Get Support

Early in the process, many caregivers don’t feel the need for support or services like respite care, which provides short-term relief either for a few hours or sometimes overnight. However, the stress of caregiving can eventually take a significant toll on the caregiver’s emotional, mental, and physical health. Talk to other family members, neighbors, and friends to create a network of support, not only for your parent but also for yourself.

Talk About Next Steps

Having the conversation about assisted living is never easy, but the sooner you talk about it, the better. Talking about it early, while your parent is in a better mental state, can help them feel more in control. Because dementia is progressive, the time could come when a parent’s physical and mental needs become greater than you can continue meeting at home. Talking about it early is a good way to establish a plan for the future if remaining at home won’t be possible.

Signs that a Loved One Needs Help

Difficulty with familiar tasks, challenges solving problems, and changes in personal care habits are all signs that a parent needs some additional help. All these issues are potential signs that a loved one may have the early stages of dementia. Other signs that caregiving needs are increasing include:

• Withdrawal from social events or hobbies
• Mood and personality changes
• Decreased ability to make decisions or exercise good judgment
• Frequently misplaced items and inability to retrace their steps
• Piled up mail and unresolved financial matters (i.e., unpaid bills)

Common Caregiving Challenges

It can be challenging to care for people with dementia. A survey of more than 500 caregivers revealed that some of the biggest challenges caregivers face include:

• Aggression and agitated behavior
• Repetition in actions or speaking
• Restlessness
• Wandering
• Incontinence
• Confusion late in the day, also commonly called “sundowning”
• Sleep issues
• Eating problems
• Refusal to take medications or eat

Caregiving for Parents with Dementia at Home vs. Assisted Living

Keeping a loved one at home as long as possible may be preferable, but it’s not always possible. It’s also not always the best option for the caregiver or the parent. Significant behavior changes, disorientation that leads to unsafe physical conditions, and the decline of a caregiver’s health may lead to the need for assisted living.

At that point, the need for quality services you can trust becomes paramount. Assisted living services from Judson Meadows include three levels of care that change as residents’ needs evolve. Assisted living communities offer social interactions and enrichment, medication management, and help with activities of daily living.

This helps relieve the burden on caregivers, allowing them the peace of mind to know their parents are safe and well-cared for in a positive environment. A move to assisted living also allows caregivers to shift their roles and enjoy the time spent with their parents.

Contact Judson Meadows for Assisted Living in the Glenville and Schenectady, New York, Area

Caregiving is a labor of love, and we are here to support you however we can. Consider arranging a tour to see the community as part of your future planning process or to get a feel for the options available right now.

If you would like to request a tour, learn more information about the community, or discuss respite care options, contact us today.