Using In-Home Care to Care for Patients with Dementia

When a family member is diagnosed with dementia, this can be a difficult time for families. This progressive condition affects the person’s mental capabilities including memory, judgment, and reasoning. It can also impact their personality and behavior. Many patients are able to maintain some level of independence as the condition progresses; however, they may need some assistance.

In-home care can be a beneficial option when assisted living or nursing homes are not yet appropriate placements. Having a caregiver come to the patient’s home allows them to remain in a familiar environment and go about their daily routine. The caregiver provides them with any support or assistance they may need in completing tasks and is a positive source of companionship. 

Evaluate your loved one’s needs. Patients with dementia progress at different rates. Determine how much and what kinds of assistance your loved one needs. They may still be able to do many things on their own but need supervision to ensure their safety and well-being. The home care provider can help you to make these decisions and create a plan of care that works for your situation. As your family member needs more help, the level care of may be changed accordingly.

Educate in-home staff about your family member. Talk to the in-home caregiver about the person with dementia’s background and life. Oftentimes patients have clearer memories of their past than they do of more recent events. Let the caregiver know about things the person is proud of and has accomplished in their life. This can provide talking points and encourage more engaging discussions. Also let them know about the person’s routine and activities that they enjoy. Maintaining familiarity and routine can help to ease transitions and allow the person to feel more confident in their abilities.

Know what services are available. In-home care can cover a wide range of services including assistance and supervision with cooking, cleaning, personal care, laundry, exercise, shopping, visiting, and other activities of daily living.  This can alleviate some of the stress on families to make sure that someone is available to tend to these needs. It also allows the patient to remain more independent and stay in their home for as long as possible while staying safer and ensuring that their daily needs are met. They also have someone to keep them company and follow up on their progress and concerns that may arise.

In-home care can be a valuable option if your loved one has dementia yet you want to help them continue living as independent and high quality of a life as possible. With different levels of care available, the caregiver can tailor their services to your loved one’s changing needs and adapt with them.