It’s natural and human to want to keep a family member with Alzheimer’s disease in the comfort of their own home. Aging in place can be a safe and respectful choice, but it needs to be done with the help of professionals trained in Alzheimer’s care. Knowing how to work well with those providers can make a big difference in the safety and quality of life of a loved one.
Start with a Clear and Honest Assessment
To begin with, families should ask Alzheimer’s care providers to do a full needs assessment before creating a care plan. This evaluation helps determine what risks the senior is facing right now in their illness, such as wandering, not taking their medicine correctly, falling, or having trouble with everyday tasks like cooking.
To make sure that the right level and type of care is set up from the start, loved ones need to be honest about where things stand.
Set Up Regular Communication with Caregivers
One of the most powerful tools is regular, structured communication between family members and caregivers. Families should set up regular check-ins, like daily notes, weekly calls, or short conversations at the beginning and end of shifts.
Caregivers notice changes in behavior, new confusion, or physical symptoms that family members, especially those who don’t live in the home, might not see at all. Making a shared log or notebook for communication keeps everyone in the loop and responsible.
Share Personal History and Preferences
When Alzheimer’s care providers know more about the senior than just their diagnosis, they can do their jobs better. Families should take the time to write down their loved one’s life story, daily habits, favorite foods, calming activities, and anything that makes them anxious or agitated.
This kind of personalized background helps caregivers gain trust and handle tough situations better. Many families find it helpful to make a simple “life history” document that they can give to anyone new who comes to their home.
Discuss Safety Procedures
Families should feel comfortable asking care providers directly how they address certain safety issues. It’s important and okay to ask questions like how they deal with wandering episodes, what they do if the senior doesn’t want to take their medicine, or how they handle emergencies at night.
Providers with a positive reputation will be happy to have these conversations. If a provider doesn’t want to discuss protocols, it’s a red flag that they might not be the right fit for a loved one.
Modifications Should Be a Team Effort
Families can rely on the practical, on-the-ground experience of Alzheimer’s care providers when they look at the home environment regarding safety. Working with these providers when it comes to what changes need to be made, such as door alarms, stove shut-off devices, grab bars, or locked cabinets, is key—not to mention that it gives family members peace of mind.
Families and Alzheimer’s care providers who work together help create an environment that is safe, comfortable, and engaging for loved ones with the disease. As a result, aging in place feels more possible for everyone involved.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s Care in McKinney, TX, please contact the caring staff at Arcy Healthcare today at (469) 293-1515
Providing In-Home Healthcare Services in North Texas, including Dallas, Hurst, Grapevine, Keller, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Denton, Flower Mound, Carrollton, Gainesville, and more.
Sources:
- https://www.dementiasociety.org/post/practical-tips-for-daily-life-helping-a-family-member-living-with-dementia?
- https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/safety/home-safety?
- https://www.ummhealth.org/health-library/for-caregivers-safety-tips-for-people-with-dementia
- https://www.alzheimers.gov/life-with-dementia/tips-caregivers
My name is Jimmie Stapleton. I am the founder and CEO of Arcy Healthcare. Arcy Healthcare includes Arcy Hospice, Arcy Supportive Care, Arcy Home Health and Arcy at Home.
Arcy Hospice was opened in 2007 to provide care and support for individuals and families facing a life limiting illness. It was established after my wife Ellen, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, had completed her chemo and radiation therapies. At that time, things were looking positive, and we wanted to do something for our community that had been so supportive of our family during her treatments. Unfortunately, the cancer returned a few years later, and she subsequently passed away under our care in 2010.
In the years that followed, I began to see the need to provide the same level of excellent care to patients across the continuum of care. Therefore, we have added a home health division (Arcy Home Health), a palliative care division (Arcy Supportive Care), and two home care divisions, (Arcy at Home and Living Well Senior Care). With the addition of these divisions, we can meet most of the post-acute care needs for you and your family in your home.
I started Arcy Hospice with my wife as my inspiration to provide exceptional care and support in the patient’s home, where they are surrounded by family and where they feel most comfortable. I’m proud to say our dedicated staff provides some of the most respected in-home care in Dallas-Fort Worth, treating every patient like a member of our own family.
Please let us know if we can enrich the quality of life for you or a loved one.
Sincerely,
Jimmie Stapleton – Founder and CEO
Arcy Healthcare
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