Dementia is a progressive cognitive impairment. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia in seniors (75 percent of cases), but it is not the only kind. Other forms of dementia include vascular dementia, which often follows a stroke; frontotemporal lobar degeneration and corticobasal degeneration, in which areas of the brain start to shrink; and Parkinson's disease dementia.
While the causation and prognosis of each dementia type vary, one thing is certain: if your senior loved one has any form of dementia, they are going to require care and support. While caring for a person with dementia is often a true labor of love for family and friends, it also quickly becomes overwhelming. …show more content…
Not only will they be able to continue to reside in their own home, but their dignity and quality of life are kept as top priorities. Early on, the care may start light housekeeping and transportation. As the disease progresses, services can be adapted as necessary, all the way to 24-hour home care.
The most common services offered with dementia care include meal preparation and eating assistance, housekeeping and laundry, medication management, personal care (bathing, toileting, grooming, dressing), and social support or companion care. For the family, the option of respite care services is invaluable.
The best time to plan for dementia homecare is the moment the disease is diagnosed. Since dementia is a progressive disease, you want your loved one to be able to participate in as many of their care decisions as they can while they are still able to do so.
In short, any sort of dementia diagnosis is not wanted. The good news is that with early intervention, the progression of dementia and Alzheimer's can be slowed. During this time, homecare assistance can provide your loved one with the support and assistance they need (or you need) to allow them to age in place while maximizing their quality of