How To Stay In Your Home with Dementia and Alzheimer’s
“They’re lost again… don’t know their address…”
The stories you see on the news about people getting lost, can’t find in their home, or are unable to recognize their own family are heartbreaking. But, that’s not all dementia is.
Your worst experiences with Alzheimer’s and dementia will be the little things, the small memories that disappear, the changes in your schedule, and fear.
Worst of all, your family can experience all those things.
Fortunately, you have options. Not only can we slow down and maybe even stop some of the later debilitating issues, we can take the pressure off your family as well.
Tips For Staying Safe
If you already experienced some of the signs of dementia, and you still want to stay in your home, some tried-and-true ways and systems can help. Let’s take a look at some of them now.
- Create a schedule and write it down
- Keep checklists of daily tasks
- Use a timer to remind yourself to do specific tasks
- Have a check-in system with a family member for unusual activities
- Limit choices to avoid overwhelming yourself
- Avoid naps – or take short ones to avoid confusing morning and afternoon
- Reduce distractions to help keep you on schedule and on task
Even if you are starting to forget certain things, having a system in place for your daily tasks and appointments can help reduce confusion and give you peace of mind.
Take Care of Your Body – First Line Of Defense
At any age, your first line of defense for keeping your mind healthy and active is to take care of your body.
Here’s the thing:
If you let your body suffer from a sedentary life, improper foods, and a lack of sleep, something will eventually break. You could experience diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and yes, dementia.
We have five tips to keep you active and healthy. But, working with a nutritionist and exercise coach can give you the best advice, targeted specifically to you.
- Exercise daily
- Sleep on a schedule – plan more than you think you will need
- Choose fruits and vegetables as 3/4 of your diet
- Eliminate processed foods
- Supplement wisely (give us a call, we can help you with that)
What’s the Next Step
“He was a very loving and doting grandfather, but the Alzheimer’s was super frustrating for him.” ~Marie
If your memory is not serving you… if you forget your medication… if you forget to drink plenty of water…
You have so many Ifs…
In the end, you will need help. Taking care of a loved one who has dementia or Alzheimer’s is an overwhelming task. It is not like taking care of a child because your loved one knows they should be independent and wants to retain that independence.
They just can’t…
At-home care is expensive. However, using it correctly can help save you thousands of dollars per month.
The average cost of a specialized Alzheimer’s Care facility is approximately $7,000 to $12,000 per month. Medicare may cover some of the cost, but usually doesn’t cover all of it until after all of your loved one’s possessions are liquidated.
If you try and take care of it all yourself, you are sacrificing your quality of life. There’s the extra time and effort needed to get your loved one to the doctors’ appointments, grocery shopping, and other activities to keep them active. There’s the sacrifice to your children, your friends. Many caregivers experience burnout, and you can increase your risk of many health problems that strike after the final settlement of your loved one.
You can find a middle ground. Various types of home care companies can provide the safety and security your loved one needs to deal with many of the problems. Some of these services are simply companions, somebody to share time and some minor amounts of housework. You will also find nursing assistants, skilled nursing, and around the clock care available depending on your need.
Some of these services cost between $13 and $19 per hour for companion services, depending on where you’re located. Full-time, around-the-clock care with a nurse can run 35 to $40 per hour.
You can compare that to the $120 to $150 per hour that it costs to put your loved one in an Alzheimer’s Care facility.
Fortunately, more insurance companies are covering the cost of companion services and at-home care. Not only is the price lower, but you’ll find you’re better at home.
Conclusion
You want to stay in your home as long as possible, to be safe, and to continue your freedom and have dignity and choices. Even with dementia stealing your memories, you can still have a vibrant and loving life by taking specific steps to keep your body and mind healthy.
Getting help with Alzheimer’s care can be as simple as having somebody visit your home. It is an expense, but you can save heartache and money later on by taking the right steps now.