Life is always busy for family caregivers. Taking care of an aging or ill loved one while juggling career, home and family is time consuming. For many, the added responsibilities of holiday-related tasks such as shopping, gift wrapping and baking make this time of year one they dread instead of enjoy. 

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that affects cognitive functions. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, individuals’ needs may change, requiring different types and levels of care. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but with treatment and proper care, the disease can be managed so that affected individuals continue to enjoy a high quality of life.

Communicating may become difficult for those who have dementia. Dementia affects different areas of the brain and may impact a person’s ability to communicate affectively through both speech and body language. Dementia may also affect the person’s ability to understand and process information that is being communicated. Communication is crucial for maintaining a positive environment, so it is very important that those in association with dementia sufferers take the time to understand and communicate successfully.

Positive Interaction

The BBC recently posted a story about how those with dementia can have their memories triggered by being shown old photographs.

When elder loved ones begin to require assistance, there are several options that should be taken into consideration. In the past, nursing homes were the most common option to ensure the safety of senior family members. In recent years, assisted living facilities and home care aid have grown in popularity. Each of these options has advantages and disadvantages which should be considered prior to enrollment.

Staying in the home can be extremely beneficial to seniors with dementia. The familiarity and comfort of surroundings, as well as the interaction with loved ones and beloved pets, can help to mitigate difficult dementia behaviors and sometimes slow the progression of the disease. However, staying in the home also presents certain safety issues that are not present in other settings such as nursing homes.

Home care services allow seniors to receive needed assistance with daily tasks at a much lower cost than nursing homes or assisted living facilities. In many cases, the costs of medications and needed continuous treatment such as oxygen may also be lower when given at home as opposed to provided by a nursing facility. Patients also benefit from enjoying the comforts of home instead of moving into a facility that is unfamiliar and restricting.

Dementia is often misunderstood. While dementia is often referred to as a condition, it is in fact a collection of symptoms that effect cognitive functions. Dementia is caused by damage to the cells of the brain. The cause of brain damage may influence the way that dementia symptoms affect the sufferer. Finding the root cause of dementia symptoms may also allow the underlying cause to be treated, in some cases. Approximately 20 percent of dementia causes are treatable.

Home care services are a desirable option for seniors that have begun to require assistance. Home care services can allow seniors to stay in their beloved homes and enjoy their independence while receiving help with the activities of daily living that have become difficult and taxing. However, it is important for seniors and their family members to understand that not all home care services are equal. One of the most fundamental differences in home care services is the difference between home health agencies and nurse registries.

Michael J. Costigan knows firsthand what individuals with dementia and the families that love them deal with when trying to provide comfort and care throughout the difficult process. It was his own experience caring for a loved one with a common form of the degenerative disease which inspired him to open his ComForcare location in Burlington, New Jersey nearly a decade ago.