A Guide To Choosing In-Home Care Level Of Service.
You can recognize your loved one no more and have been diagnosed with dementia. They are just a diminished version of who they actually were in their youth. As a family caretaker of a dementia patient, you want the best for them. But you are not sure if you are making the right choices for them. A friend suggests 24 hour care, but is it the right choice for dementia patients? This post discovers what is helpful if you need to make some critical decisions regarding your loved one.
It’s emotionally devastating and physically draining for the family members of aging adults with dementia symptoms, to look after their loved ones, once this ailment sets in.
If you or any other family caregivers are looking for in-depth information, in this post, we will provide you with all the information you need when choosing the in-home care level of service for your loved ones with dementia.
Dementia is a life altering condition and is a progressive disease. It is an umbrella term for a wide range of symptoms that include memory loss, confusion and the degeneration of social and cognitive functions. It usually sets in with old age, and may be very disturbing for the patient’s loved ones. Also it is a progressive disorder that may keep getting worse once it sets in and requires hands on care.
Depending upon the intensity of the condition, the patient may require help with IADLs as well as ADLs.
Why Is In-Hour Care For Dementia Patients A Good Idea?
For family caregivers of dementia patients, the early stages of the disease are rather manageable. But as dementia progresses, it starts having a more drastic effect on memory and daily functions and the elderly parent or loved one may require constant support. In the later stages, patients have trouble communicating and carrying out essential life functions like eating, drinking, sleeping, going to the washroom etc.
There may come a time when the safer and sensible option is to arrange 24 hour live in care. With dementia and similar ailments like Alzeihmers, there are chances of gradual degradation in memory and cognitive functions. Elderly adults with dementia could lose track of their surroundings and are at a risk of wandering away from their homes. They may seem confused and disoriented about their whereabouts and have trouble maintaining essential survival functions like eating, sleeping, using the restroom, maintaining balance and hygiene.
In such situations, monitoring and looking after the loved ones day and night, can be challenging for family caregiver. It can take a toll on the family caregivers and even the quality of patient care.
Hence, arranging full-time in-home live-in caregivers for dementia patients can be a very feasible approach to maximize patient and family caregiver’s well being.
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Indications For 24/7 care plans
It’s always a good idea to look out for tell-tale signs that warrant full-time care in their own home. If you notice:
- Disturbed body balance and increased falls
- Disrupted sleep patterns or a lack of sleep
- Failure to eat or drink independently
- Heightened confusion, frequent wandering and losing the way
- Toilet accidents and incontinence
- Forgetting about medications
- Safety hazards like leaving the door open, or the stove unattended.
All or any of these signs indicate that a 24 hour care plan from a professional caregiver is a safer option for the patients health, safety and your peace of mind.
Benefits Of Live In Caregivers
Nursing homes, senior living/assisted living facility and adult day care facilities are equipped with resources to manage dementia and Alziehmers patients. However, there are huge costs involved and most of the seniors prefer to age in the familiar settings of their homes.
There are many benefits associated with 24 hour in home care for dementia patients with highly trained caregivers.
Constant Monitoring
With affected memory and cognitive functions, 24 hour care ensures that there is always somebody keeping an eye on the patient, which is difficult for family caregivers. This helps them stay safe and reduces the risk of them wandering away.
Minimizes the risk of injury and falls
Dementia patients often lose their balance and are at a risk of falling, bumping and hurting themselves. 24 hour in home care ensures that they have mobility assistance at all times in their own home.
Allows aging in place
Dementia patients can stay in the familiar settings of their homes and communities, if they get in-home care. This has a positive effect on their well-being.
Help with ADLs
In-home caregivers are trained to assist in activities of daily living. 24 hour in home care ensures that they have help with the ADLs at all times of the day and night.
Peace of Mind for the Family
With 24 hour in home care, the family member is provided relief and peace of mind for the well being of their loved ones.
If you still aren’t convinced about the benefits of 24 hour care, you can read about it in more detail here.
Types of in-home care for dementia patients
Depending upon their stage of dementia, patients may require different levels of in-home care.
- Companion care:
This involves a personal companion for the patients who spends time with them, helps them fight feelings of loneliness, accompanies them on social outings and keeps a watchful eye on their activities in case they need help.
- Personal home care
A personal care assistant provides non-medical care and helps the elderly patients with their ADLs(activities of daily living) such as bathing, maintaining personal hygiene, eating, mobility, meal preparation, medication reminders etc.
- Home health care
It involves medical care provided by in-home assistants who are certified and authorized to provide these services. It is usually beneficial for patients who are at advanced dementia care.
How Much Does 24 Hour In-Home Care Cost
Globally the cost of dementia care is 1 trillion dollars. The cost of 24 hour patient care depends upon their stage of dementia, their geographic location/state and the level of care they require.
The following chart by homecare.org helps estimate the cost of care with the level of care required.
The Difference Between Live-In Care Givers And 24 Hour Care
Although it seems like one and the same thing, the services provided by live-in caregivers differ from those of for dementia patients.
Live-in caregivers stay with the patients 24 hours, but there is only one caregiver who needs to sleep during the night and have lunch breaks and personal breaks. 
They also need a place to sleep.Family and friends or a second caregiver has to step in at times when the live-in caregiver is on a break.
For round the clock care, the patients are provided care 24 hours a day, with a minimum of two caregivers, who do not sleep during their duty hours. The shifts for each one are usually 8 to 12 hours long. Live-in caregivers charge a cheaper rate in exchange for room and lodging, while 24 hour caregivers don’t.
Where To Find In Home Care
Fortunately, there are a number of entities like Family Choice Healthcare that provide trained and reliable in-home carefor dementia patients.
At Family Choice Healthcare, we provide all kinds of non-medical care assistance for the care of your loved ones.
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Give us a call and let’s discuss how we can be of assistance.