Dementia is a scary disease, and if your parent or spouse has Alzheimer's disease, then you are probably dealing with a great deal of stress and difficulty. More than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer's currently, and this is the most commonly diagnosed type of dementia.
This is a diagnosis that no one wants to hear, but it is important to note that there are many support groups today that can help you and the person living with Alzheimer's to deal with the many changes that will be happening. It can be very overwhelming at first, but talking to people who are going through the same situation can be very helpful and comforting and can help you create a plan of action to make life as easy as possible.
In the beginning stages, medical treatments can slow the progression of the disease, but at some point, it will be difficult for a person to care for themselves, and eventually it will become very difficult for a spouse or child to act as a caregiver. Because Alzheimer's patients eventually need constant care and safety measures to ensure that they don't wander away from their home, it can be a good idea to look into alternative types of care.
There are many levels of care to consider, and most of the choices are dependent on your budgetary limitations. One type of facility to consider would be an assisted living community that specializes in Alzheimer's and dementia care. Often this is a good option for people who are otherwise in excellent physical health. The staff at the assisted living facility will help with grooming tasks and personal care, as well as housekeeping, laundry and all meal service. In addition, they are trained to be helpful and patient with those living with dementia, which can be very confusing and frightening. Most assisted living facilities also have security systems in place to ensure that your loved one will not wander away. Assisted living homes also provide plenty of activities and social opportunities for residents, which can make life much more pleasant.
Assisted living homes are usually quite pleasant and offer many services, but that also translates to having a very high monthly cost. Often you might spend $3,000 to $4,000 per month for this level of care, and these communities do not accept Medi-Cal. There are other options to think about, such as having a caregiver come and live in the home. This can be an excellent option that can reduce a great deal of stress from the family. The caregiver can help with grooming and personal tasks, as well as providing some extra security. A board and care facility, which is usually located in a private home or residence, is another option if you can locate one that is suitable for a person with Alzheimer's or dementia. These homes are allowed to have about six residents, and there will be somewhere there to help 24 hours a day.
If your loved one's income is sparse and mostly consists of social security payments, then you might need to find a facility that accepts Medi-Cal as a payment. Generally, the type of facility that you will be looking at is a nursing home or skilled nursing facility. On the plus side, there will be nursing staff on hand all day and night, and security is usually very good. In addition, there will be someone there who can handle all personal tasks as well as any emergency situations that arise. The downside is that because of their highly medical nature, nursing homes often feel quite institutional, although some have taken great pains to provide cheerful decor and a myriad of activities for the residents to provide more of a community feeling.
This is a diagnosis that no one wants to hear, but it is important to note that there are many support groups today that can help you and the person living with Alzheimer's to deal with the many changes that will be happening. It can be very overwhelming at first, but talking to people who are going through the same situation can be very helpful and comforting and can help you create a plan of action to make life as easy as possible.
In the beginning stages, medical treatments can slow the progression of the disease, but at some point, it will be difficult for a person to care for themselves, and eventually it will become very difficult for a spouse or child to act as a caregiver. Because Alzheimer's patients eventually need constant care and safety measures to ensure that they don't wander away from their home, it can be a good idea to look into alternative types of care.
There are many levels of care to consider, and most of the choices are dependent on your budgetary limitations. One type of facility to consider would be an assisted living community that specializes in Alzheimer's and dementia care. Often this is a good option for people who are otherwise in excellent physical health. The staff at the assisted living facility will help with grooming tasks and personal care, as well as housekeeping, laundry and all meal service. In addition, they are trained to be helpful and patient with those living with dementia, which can be very confusing and frightening. Most assisted living facilities also have security systems in place to ensure that your loved one will not wander away. Assisted living homes also provide plenty of activities and social opportunities for residents, which can make life much more pleasant.
Assisted living homes are usually quite pleasant and offer many services, but that also translates to having a very high monthly cost. Often you might spend $3,000 to $4,000 per month for this level of care, and these communities do not accept Medi-Cal. There are other options to think about, such as having a caregiver come and live in the home. This can be an excellent option that can reduce a great deal of stress from the family. The caregiver can help with grooming and personal tasks, as well as providing some extra security. A board and care facility, which is usually located in a private home or residence, is another option if you can locate one that is suitable for a person with Alzheimer's or dementia. These homes are allowed to have about six residents, and there will be somewhere there to help 24 hours a day.
If your loved one's income is sparse and mostly consists of social security payments, then you might need to find a facility that accepts Medi-Cal as a payment. Generally, the type of facility that you will be looking at is a nursing home or skilled nursing facility. On the plus side, there will be nursing staff on hand all day and night, and security is usually very good. In addition, there will be someone there who can handle all personal tasks as well as any emergency situations that arise. The downside is that because of their highly medical nature, nursing homes often feel quite institutional, although some have taken great pains to provide cheerful decor and a myriad of activities for the residents to provide more of a community feeling.
About the Author:
Kristana Jenson enjoys reading home health care blogs. To get additional information regarding assisted living Escondido facilities or for expert help finding board and care Carlsbad services, please check out the CarePlacement site now.
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