Across the country, 70 percent of those with Alzheimer’s live at home, and are cared for by their family members. This is often a struggle. As Cathi Slade, who cares for her father with Alzheimer’s explains, “It’s exhausting dealing with someone that has dementia . . . because you have behaviors like they ask the same questions over and over again. And then also, their sleep patterns get messed up and when you are ready to sleep, they are awake.”
Alzheimer’s is a disease that becomes progressively harder on a patient’s family members as the patient’s condition continues to worsen. As the percentage of the population with Alzheimer’s continues to grow, there is an ever-increasing need for increased support and funding for Alzheimer’s caregivers. A recent article discusses the services available for those who care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.
One company that provides these services is Home Instead. Like many similar companies, Home Instead provides assistance to keep senior citizens with Alzheimer’s in their homes as long as possible. Home Instead also provides free resources, such as the “Alzheimer’s & Other Dementias Care Companion App” for those caring for loved ones with dementia.
Help that is now available through Home Instead and other companies includes anything from general companionship to meal preparation, medicine reminders, and transportation. The people providing this assistance are specially trained to deal with the daily needs of those with Alzheimer’s. This training becomes especially important when necessary tasks such as bathing begin to provoke a fight.
