When your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, you may be nervous about the future. As this is a form of dementia that doesn't have a cure, the goal is to provide treatment and care that helps ease the symptoms of your loved one and gives them a sense of safety. Early signs of dementia can include forgetfulness, trouble cooking, fear of staying home alone, or even difficulty remembering basic tasks that used to be easy. With assisted living, an individual with Alzheimer's can get the basic help they may need, while living in an environment that fosters independence as much as possible.
Independence While Caring for an Individual with Alzheimer's
One of the harder aspects to deal with when diagnosed with Alzheimer's is the progressive loss of independence. In an assisted living facility, the main goal is to help residents maintain as much of their independence as possible. Personal care needs are expected to be handled by the resident. Each resident has their own apartment within the facility, allowing for privacy. While staff have a key, other residents are not allowed in the apartment without the permission of the one that lives there. This allows people who have Alzheimer's to have their own apartment, but have staff close by in case there is an emergency.
Keeping Your Loved One a Schedule
As forgetfulness, or difficulty remembering to complete basic tasks is common with Alzheimer's, remaining on a schedule is useful. At an assisted living facility, there is a schedule in place designed to keep your loved one safe. The facility will make sure that medications are taken at the right time, and that your loved one is reminded that it is time for meals. While residents in assisted living aren't brought to meals or activities if they don't want to go, they are reminded of the time of day and what is going on next to see if they are interested in attending.
Meals are Served Family Style
One of the best aspects of assisted living is the family style meals that are served. You will know that your loved one has the opportunity for three healthy meals a day, that they aren't responsible for preparing. As cooking can become very hard, even at the beginning of dementia, having meals provided is an excellent way to know your loved one is eating. In addition, eating in a family style setting gives your loved one an opportunity to socialize without feeling isolated in their own apartment.
For more information, contact companies like Haven Care.
Share9 March 2017
When my mom had a stroke, I knew that things were never going to be the same. We were very fortunate that she lived so close to the hospital and that the neighbor was there visiting when it happened, because the outcome is not as bad as it could have been. Unfortunately, she needed a lot of extra care while she worked to recover from the damage that was done. I found a wonderful assisted living facility to place her in to get the help that she needed. If you have a loved one that has recently experienced the same thing, my blog could be quite helpful for you.
