An Alzheimer’s diagnosis can leave family members with a lot of questions ranging from their senior loved one’s current needs to future abilities and what to expect. To ensure your loved one enjoys the highest level of quality of care as the disease progresses, it’s important to understand the challenges you’ll face as a caregiver. Although the progression of the disease can differ from person to person, the following 4 challenges are commonly associated with caring for a senior with Alzheimer’s disease.
1. Misunderstanding Personality Changes
Changes in personality are among the toughest challenges family members encounter when caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Hearing your loved one speak out of character, act out, or snap may make it difficult for you to remain calm. It’s important to understand it’s the disease that causes seniors with Alzheimer’s to act differently, not anything you say or do. The more patient and understanding you are during these difficult times, the better your relationship with your loved one will be during each stage of the disease.
Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality home care. Richmond families trust Home Care Assistance to help their elderly loved ones age in place safely and comfortably.
2. Physical and Emotional Exhaustion
In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, seniors are still able to meet many of their own needs, but it’s important to understand your loved one will eventually require around-the-clock care. Family caregivers who fail to understand the time commitment of caregiving find themselves physically and emotionally exhausted, which can have a dramatic impact on the level of care provided. To maintain your own health and wellbeing and ensure high-quality care for your loved one, investigate support systems such as in-home respite care early on.
3. Isolation and Loneliness
Caring for your loved one 24/7 could leave you feeling alone and isolated. As the disease progresses, you’ll need to make an extra effort to retain your support system of family and friends. Joining a support group is a great option that offers you the opportunity to form new relationships with people who truly understand your situation. You can also pick up caregiving tips and receive advice specific to caring for Alzheimer’s.
An in-home Alzheimer’s caregiver can also provide the support you need. Home care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers
4. Financial Worries
The sooner you put financial plans for addressing the costs of care in place, the less of a strain the disease will put on your family’s budget. Most experts recommend contacting a lawyer at the onset of the disease to explore your financial options. Your family member’s medical team can also act as a source for helpful information.
If your elderly loved one is living with Alzheimer’s and needs help managing the symptoms, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of Alzheimer’s care. Richmond seniors can rely on our revolutionary Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), an activities-based program that promotes cognitive health and delays the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. CTM also encourages seniors to engage with others in an enjoyable way and helps them build new routines to look forward to. To speak with one of our qualified Care Managers, call (804) 207-4746 today.