Three Important Things to Know About Alzheimer’s

By Marlene Diaz | February 16, 2017 |

Elder Care Gig Harbor WA

Dealing with the fact a family member has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s may not be easy. It could be a spouse, parent, sibling, or somebody else close to you. Whoever it is, you may have had concerns about their memory, health, and various risk factors in the past.

Maybe you had concerns that this individual was showing signs of Alzheimer’s or some other serious memory related problem. You encouraged them to go to the doctor for months, maybe even years. They finally went because they had no other choice. They couldn’t hide the symptoms any longer.

Now, though, the hard work begins. You want to help them stay safe and you want to encourage them to maintain a high quality of life, so what can you do about it? The more you learn about Alzheimer’s, the easier it will be for you to provide the support they need.

Below are three things you might want to know about Alzheimer’s and, when you do, it can help you make better choices that will benefit the elder in the long run.

It is progressive.

What you see with regard to memory loss is only the beginning. Yes, it will get worse over time. There are steps the elder can take now that can pay dividends later on, such as becoming more mentally stimulated (Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation) and developing a routine, but the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s will continue to progress.

Caring for a loved one will get tougher.

You may assume you’re the best person for the job, and you might have time to devote to them, but if you have no prior experience working with an elderly individual with Alzheimer’s, you may not know the best strategies that would benefit them, not just now, but in the months and years to come.

Being a primary caregiver for somebody with this particular form of dementia can be emotionally and physically draining. If you think it’s difficult now, it will only get more difficult as time progresses.

It can impact relationships.

While you’re providing support and care for this individual, it could negatively affect your relationship with him or her. It may also affect your own marriage, relationship with friends, and much more. The more time you devote to this individual, the less time you have for yourself.

What you can do right now is sit down and talk about the prospect of relying on elder home care support services. It would be the best thing not just in the future, but starting now.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elder Care Services in Gig Harbor WA, contact the caring staff at Hospitality Home Care today. Call us at (206) 966-6552.

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Marlene Diaz

Care Supervisor at Hospitality Home Care

Marlene brings to Hospitality Home Care's Care Supervisor Team an unprecedented level of passion for caring for others and a wealth of knowledge and understanding in the care services field. Marlene has worked in the healthcare field for more than 15 years in a variety of settings including, adult family home administration, home care HR supervising and working with specialty populations including dementia, mental health and developmental disabilities. Throughout this time Marlene has also maintained her caregiver credentials that she obtained as a teenager because, while her knowledge is best served helping to train caregivers and assist families to get the care they need, her heart is most fulfilled when she is providing care to others. When she is not in the office, you will most likely find Marlene caring for her family, or spending time with her friends.