Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care at Home

Step 2 of Hiring a Homecare Agency: Assessment, Care Plans & Contracts

February 11th, 2008 by Gilbert Guide

Assessment Before signing a contract with a homecare agency, an assessment will be made to determine the needs of the person who requires care. Many companies offer this service for free. During an assessment, an agency representative will visit your loved one in the home or at the hospital. The agency representative will ask questions and look around the house if needed. The following issues should be assessed by both interview and observation: Physical health Medication use Amount of...Read the rest of this article »

Homecare: The Differences Between Full-Service Agencies, Private Hire & Referral Agencies

February 11th, 2008 by Gilbert Guide

Homecare, also known as in-home care, provides a caregiver to work in your home and help with activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and household chores. Some homecare aides accept clients who live in assisted living or skilled nursing facilities, and in those cases they work with their clients in the facility rather than the client's home. There are three basic ways to go about hiring a professional caregiver. First, you need to decide...Read the rest of this article »

Alzheimer’s Care Explained

February 11th, 2008 by Gilbert Guide

Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, is a progressive, degenerative brain disorder. Brain cells shrink or disappear, gradually destroying a person's memory, ability to learn and make judgments. An estimated 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. By 2050 the number of those affected is projected to range from 11.3 million to 16 million. As Alzheimer's advances, an individual's capacity to reason and carry out normal daily activities diminishes. As the disease affects disparate areas of the brain, different...Read the rest of this article »

How to Talk to an Elder with Dementia Using Validation Therapy, Redirection & Other Techniques

January 28th, 2008 by Gilbert Guide

If you have a loved one with Alzheimer's or dementia, then you know how difficult it can be to communicate with him or her. Maybe there are good or bad days. Maybe there are certain times of the day that are better or worse. Whatever the case may be, this article will walk you through techniques that are sure to improve communication with the person you love. Put Yourself in Their Shoes Imagine, for a moment, that you are...Read the rest of this article »

How to Improve the Quality of Life of an Elder with Dementia

January 28th, 2008 by Gilbert Guide

People with Alzheimer's or dementia can still lead meaningful, enjoyable lives. If you have a loved one who has been diagnosed, read on to learn about the many steps you can take to improve the quality of life of the person you care about. Things to Pay Attention To Environment Try to decipher whether problematic behaviors are a result of your loved one's environment. Consider the following issues when assessing the environment: Look for patterns of behavior. Something as...Read the rest of this article »