How Can My Loved One With Alzheimer’s Live at Home Safely?
How Can My Loved One With Alzheimer’s Live at Home Safely?
Today, over 47.5 million people in the U.S. live with some form of dementia. 80-90% rely on family and friends to help care for them. As your loved ones age, you may begin to think about the impact the disease could have on their quality of life.
Alzheimer’s Disease, which is the most common type of dementia, is a progressive condition and is not curable. This fact can leave you, your siblings, or other family members, asking a big question: Can Mom or Dad live at home safely?
To assess if your loved one with Alzheimer’s can remain safely in their homes, you will need to think about more than one aspect of their condition and lifestyle. Here are just a few things to consider:
Are They Safe?
This is the biggest question - are they safe? Dementia may include serious side effects such as confusion, aggression, and wandering, leaving them in an unsafe situation. They may accidentally leave a candle on, not take medication, or even leave the house.
To help alleviate this concern, you can utilize adaptive equipment and technology that can cue someone living with dementia, giving your loved one the chance to live at home safely for longer. Check with their neurologist, geriatrician, or local dementia support group for ideas that may work for your situation.
How Does My Loved One Feel?
This is the next question to assess. If your loved one is living alone at home, you may need to check in and determine if they appear happy at home. If there is low human interaction, living at home alone can cause depression, anxiety, and general loneliness and actually increase the progression of the disease. Lack of sleep, which is common for those living with dementia, could also contribute to their feelings of confusion and anger during the day time.
Is There Enough Support?
Finally, the last question, is there enough support? Is there someone to check on Mom or Dad regularly? Are they able to travel to doctor appointments, make meals, or take medication? With the right systems and people in place, your Mom or Dad can live safely at home for longer than you may think.
You Are Not Alone
Helping your loved one with daily routines is key to maintaining their quality of life. However, caring for a loved one with dementia could be challenging both physically and emotionally. A lot of times, there is just not enough time or energy in the day to care for your loved one while also working and tending to your own family. If you are feeling this way, you are not alone.
Fortunately, the team at Right at Home Salem-Marblehead can give the support, guidance, and expertise needed for your family. Our caregivers have years of experience working with seniors living with dementia, and our friendly care can keep Mom safe, engaged, and supported at home. Please give us a call to discuss your care needs or contact us online.
