Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Cognitive Change
No matter the cause, conditions that result in a change of mood, memory or the thinking process are especially tough. When these are associated with aging, we often call them “Alzheimer’s,” but in reality, Alzheimer’s is just one of many different disorders of the brain.
Caring for a family member or friend with cognitive difficulties is demanding. If you’re doing it by yourself, it’s even tougher. At times, it can feel like you’re battling both the disease and the person. They need a sense of normalcy, but they don’t always act like they want it. Even when you’re doing everything right, it can feel like you’re doing everything wrong. It drains you emotionally and physically.
We believe that it doesn’t have to. Our approach is about helping you reclaim precious moments with your loved one, so instead of worrying about their bad days, you can celebrate their good days. Most of all, we want to be there for both of you so you don't have to do it alone.
Right at Home offers a customized care plan with a combination of personal care, companionship and homemaking, and just as importantly, we can provide respite care for you and your other loved ones.
Feeling Lost?
Let Us Help You Care for Those With Dementia
It can be especially hard to help someone with dementia like Alzheimer’s when the condition is so difficult to understand. In this guide, we’ll give you the basics of what causes dementia, along with some strategies for care.
Learn more
Need time for yourself? We’re there for you at any time, anywhere.
Right at Home’s Dementia Guide Video Series
In this collection, gerontologist Diane Darby Beach, Ph.D., will take you through some of the most important details of how cognitive change can progress, so you can be more prepared for whatever the future brings.
Watch the series
Four Ways We Can Help
1. Building Normalcy
Reducing stress for someone with Alzheimer’s means being
consistent. We can help you and your friend or family member create and stick to
a routine, and we can do it in a way that meets their particular needs.
This includes:
This includes:
- Making sure the home feels familiar to them
- Giving them the freedom to move about unrestricted in the home
- Minimizing stresses that can aggravate the symptoms of cognitive change
- Keeping them oriented with daily reminders of time, place and person
2. A Helping Hand
Along with a specialized cognitive care plan, Right at Home caregivers also provide general companionship to your loved one, including helping with daily tasks and protecting them from isolation or loneliness.
3. Keeping Them on Track
People with dementia may have specific, strict medication regimens. In some cases, this could require the services of a skilled nurse. Fortunately, in some states, many of our caregivers are also trained nurses, so you can rest assured the person’s needs will be met.
4. Giving You a Break
Since you carry a heavy burden as a caregiver of a person with dementia, it’s important to have a break. We can help with that, too, giving you much-needed rest and time off so you can focus on your own needs.
Learn more
The Latest Thinking in Cognitive and Dementia Care
Research into the care and treatment of dementia like Alzheimer’s is constantly growing. Here are some of the latest ideas that have guided our training and care programs.
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"Everything is nice, from cleaning to cooking. My caregiver cooks a hot meal for me all three days that she comes per week. She always stays busy cleaning my home and doing the things I can no longer do for myself."
Helen M.
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"Caring for my wife is a team effort. Different people bring different skills. Tiffany's 6 years of experience in a nursing home has helped me to learn ways to move Joann. Latonia is our kitchen and home organization specialist. She has really helped organize food that I was not aware we had in stock. Abby is our utility player. Willing to do anything at any time. Works well during the day and is a great night attendant. A typical utility player that always earns a spot on the team."
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"Personal health caregivers are often the only people with whom we may come in contact for an extended period of time. Often our ailments or afflictions keep us isolated from friends and family we might otherwise see more often. And so in a way, it magnifies the effect these people and agencies they represent; have upon our well-being; the very way we feel while they are here to assist us. Right at home workers are both highly professional and caring. I feel lucky to have them as part of my personal care team. "
Richard
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"My dad had been resistant to home companions in the past so I was very nervous about how he would react to the Right at Home caregivers. They immediately put my worries to rest. They were very gentle and nonthreatening and were able to get my dad up in the morning and take him to his day program even when he didn't want to go.
It meant a lot that the caregivers agreed to meet with me prior to their first visit to my dad and I liked reading the visit log the caretakers filled out each day."
Cathy
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"I used Right at Home for several months to assist with the care of my grandmother. The service providers that worked for us were very professional, knowledgeable and easy to work with. The administrative staff is very proactive and was readily available to the point that if the provider was going to be late, the administrative staff came out and sat with my grandmother until the provide arrived. This service is excellent if you need good reliable and dependable care for a loved one."
Denise
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"Right At Home gave excellent service for my mother. As the needs increased, the agency was excellent in providing qualified caregivers. The office staff was always courteous and available. They assisted our family during a difficult time and we were very satisfied with their service."
Evan
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"Right at Home was able to provide dignity, caring and thoughtfulness through the end of my mother's life. The dependable caregiver was friendly, compassionate and respectful with our entire family! I have recommended Right at Home to several friends and will continue to do so with others as the need arises. "
Jodi
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"Right at Home did a wonderful job caring for my aunt while my uncle was in the hospital. They really paid attention to details. Nurse was wonderful. Aides were very caring and my aunt really liked them. We felt like she was in very good hands while we were not able to be there to help her. Thank you Right at Home! "
Kathy
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"Right at Home has already been recommended by me several times. Right at Home has made me and my husband's life much easier. Sometimes I'm not there, so they are able to take care of him and even vacuum and do the chores for me."
Philip
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"I am very thankful for the services that Right at Home provides for me and my family. As a medically disabled Veteran, the monitoring by the VA and the assistance from the staff at Right at Home enables me to live at HOME. Thank God for your office staff and Home Health staff. They go above and beyond helping me to remain Home. I can't say enough good things about them. Leann is the greatest aide. "
Robert
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"Right at Home did a great job taking care of my mother during her final days. The owners were extremely helpful and caring. The caregivers were terrific! Thank you so much for all of your help and concerns. "
Vanessa