As a parent ages, caring for them becomes more complicated. However, the care could get much more challenging when dementia is involved. Symptoms of dementia may be unpredictable, it affects the cognition and one of the common challenges is some elders may resent getting help.
A caregiver must first understand dementia in order to effectively care for a senior with the disease. Dementia is a variety of illnesses that there are different types of, but Alzheimer’s disease is the one with the most pronounced stages. The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease worsen with time, indicating that the condition is a progressive disease.
Alzheimer’s patients typically live between four and eight years after diagnosis. Nevertheless, some may suffer from it for a long time. Understanding these stages will allow you to identify the behaviors displayed by your family member, how to address them, and how to update the family physician.
Alzheimer’s disease has three main phases
Those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s begin to experience brain changes long before any symptoms appear. During this phase, the disease is in its preclinical stage.
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by three stages:
1- Early Stage with mild symptoms is the beginning and initial phases of this disease. In this stage, it may still be possible for your loved one to live independently. A person may work, drive, and participate in a variety of social activities. However, they can sense a change in cognitive behavior and perception. There may be difficulties remembering recent events and names of familiar people. Additionally, they might lose their ability to plan and organize events and struggle to find items at supermarkets.
2- Moderate or the middle stage generally lasts longer than the rest of the stages of this disease. Many people are able to stay in this stage for several years. The symptoms might be altered memory, confusion, and a little intellectual impairment. The patient may experience trouble paying bills or paying attention, reading instructions, and may find it difficult dressing themselves. You can also expect them to whine, fuss, or complain a lot. Being restless and irritable is a common symptom during this stage.
3- The last stage is severe and people with the last Alzheimer’s stage are going to need 24-hour care as well as assistance with their daily activities. They may experience difficulty standing or sitting on their own, and also face difficulty swallowing or eating. This last stage brings some profound changes in the personality of the individual.
How Care for your Dementia Patient?
It is best if you start paying attention to your loved one from the early stages and get them Dementia home care services right from the beginning, so when they reach later stages, they find it normal to consider assistance. Caring for your loved one is a full-time job and requires a lot of attention and patience, so it is recommended that you get help from a third party. There may be many home care services that offer dementia home care services. To reach them simply type: home care services near me, and reach the top ones. However, don’t forget to check their recommendations and services page, as involving a third person in home affairs without much research can be dangerous.
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