After a person has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, it can be very difficult for their family members to decide on the best course of action for their loved one. Most seniors would prefer to continue living at home for the sake of retaining their independence, but there comes a point when it becomes impossible for them to care for themselves. Simple and menial tasks such as bathing, cooking, or doing household chores get neglected, thus creating an unhealthy and unsafe living situation. Even though family members usually mean well, caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia can take a huge toll on their lives. Here are 5 signs that it might be time to acquire the expert assistance of a qualified caregiver.
1. Loss of Adequate Communication Skills
People who are suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia might have trouble communicating to their loved ones what they want or need. Regular conversations become increasingly challenging for them with each passing day as their cognitive skills continue to decline. This can make it extremely difficult for a lot of family members who aren’t used to dealing these types of situations to understand what their loved ones are attempting to communicate to them. Professional caregivers possess the proper training, experience, compassion, and level of understanding to handle these types of situations with greater ease.
2. Neglect of Personal Care and Safety
It can often be difficult for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease to form rational thoughts and process their surroundings. Personal hygiene, household chores, and safety are usually neglected which could create a physically and mentally unsafe living environment for the individual. They might wander off into the streets, forget to shower for extended periods of time, forget to take their medication, forget to go grocery shopping, forget to lock their doors at night, etc. Qualified Alzheimer’s caregivers in Waterloo that offer 24-hour service can be a saving grace during this trying time and help alleviate a lot of the stress.
3. Inability to Perform Routine Daily Activities
When a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia gradually becomes despondent or uninterested in activities that used to bring them joy or that they were passionate about, this is a major sign that something is wrong. People with Alzheimer’s frequently feel lonely or like they’re being a burden on their family members and this can be a cause of consternation for them. If you notice that your loved one has stopped caring for themselves altogether and no longer performs any of their daily activities or tasks on their own, it’s time to look into good quality elderly home care in Waterloo.
4. Difficulties with Abstract Thinking and Reasoning
The concept of abstract thinking and reasoning has to do with being able to imagine intangible situations, objects, people, or numerical figures and being able to comprehend their implications. For instance, if you’re having a conversation with your elderly loved one with Alzheimer’s and you bring up a person who isn’t physically in the room, your loved one might become confused or disoriented. This is a regular and essential component of everyday life that slowly dissipates in people with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
5. Suffering from Caregiver Burnout
Far too many family members of people who suffer from Alzheimer’s feel too guilty to admit that they’re simply mentally and physically exhausted. They feel as if they’ve failed if they can no longer care for their loved one, but the truth is it’s better to seek out help when you need it rather than allowing things to get worse over time. You have a life that includes other people, responsibilities, a job, and so forth. It’s important that you take the time to care for yourself once in a while and get the respite you need.
Home Care Assistance – Kitchener, Waterloo, and Guelph is a comprehensive resource for families with elderly loved ones suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease who can no longer care for themselves. Our highly qualified advisors will guide you every step of the way when it comes to selecting an appropriate caregiver to take care of your elderly loved one. We offer a variety of care packages including part-time and full-time live-in home care services for elderly people in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Guelph. To learn more about our organization, please contact us.