In Home Care for people living with Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, it causes difficulties with memory, thinking and behaviour. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.

Alzheimer’s and the brain

Changes in the brain begin long before the first signs of memory loss. Two abnormal structures called plaques and tangles are primarily responsible for damaging and killing nerve cells in the brain. Plaques are deposits of a protein that build up in the spaces between nerve cells. Tangles are twisted fibres of another protein that build up inside cells.

Though most people develop some plaques and tangles as they age, people with Alzheimer’s tend to develop far more. Most experts believe plaques and tangles play a critical role in blocking communication among nerve cells and disrupting processes that cells need to survive. It is the destruction and death of nerve cells that causes memory failure, personality changes, problems carrying out daily activities and other symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

The most common early symptom of Alzheimer’s is difficulty remembering newly learned information. As Alzheimer’s advances through the brain it leads to increasingly severe symptoms including:

• Disorientation

• Mood and behaviour changes.

• Deepening confusion about events, time and place.

• Unfounded suspicions about family, friends and professional caregivers.

• More serious memory loss and behaviour changes.

• Difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking.

People with memory loss or other signs of Alzheimer’s may find it hard to recognise they have a problem. Signs of dementia may be more obvious to family members or friends. Anyone experiencing dementia-like symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible as the cause maybe reversible.

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The Daughterly Care Joyful Living Approach™

People living with Alzheimer’s have the same emotional needs as any other person. In fact their feelings are heightened and become increasingly important. For that reason, emotional intelligence is the key to increasing their sense of well-being. Helping people with Alzheimer’s to live well at home with a highly personalised managed service is our specialisation at Daughterly Care.

We use the appropriate best practice techniques such as:

Our carers are trained to support people with Alzheimer’s and help them explore their hobbies and interests and engage in creative therapies such as music and the arts, which are proven to have a positive impact on well-being. Other services we offer include assistance with include:

• Personal care

• Respite care for families

• Social activities and lifestyle support

• Support with memory impairment and cognitive issues

• Cooking and meal planning

• Housekeeping – cleaning and laundry

• Household management/administration

• Mobility support

• Shopping and trips outdoors

• Medication support

Often, people living with Alzheimer’s and their families request Hourly care for one or more of the above services. As the condition worsens however, more care is usually needed, with many of our clients asking for longer hours or our Live In care solution. Live In care allows the person with Alzheimer’s to stay in the familiarity of their own home while receiving the highest standard of care from a one-on-one carer. People with Alzheimer’s are often prone to confusion and disorientation, meaning moving to a residential care home is not the best environment for those with the disease.

If you would like to discuss your care needs we would love to arrange a no obligation, confidential In Home chat. One of our Nurses can come and visit you to explain all your options. Call 99707333 today.