Assistance for Individuals with Dementia

If your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia and you are acting as their caregiver, accepting outside assistance and finding a facility that best serves their needs can be a difficult process. Not only does finding the right outside assistance help alleviate your stress, it can also help give you peace of mind that your loved one is being well taken care of. This assistance allows caregivers to spend their free time enjoying the company of their loved ones, beyond doctor’s visits and assisting with daily health needs.

Learn more about when is the right time to find assistance for your loved one with dementia and what to look for in a dementia care facility.

What is caregiver burnout?

It’s important for dementia caregivers to tend to their own needs as well as those of their loved ones. Caregivers who do not set aside the time to care for themselves often experience a multitude of burnout signs. 24/7 caregiving, without adequate sleep and nutrition, can lead to fatigue. This fatigue can then lead to physical signs and symptoms such as headaches, gastrointestinal issues and pain.

Caregivers who are experiencing signs and symptoms of burnout will also notice a lack of pleasure in doing things they once enjoyed, such as hobbies. This burnout can also lead to difficulty concentrating and an increase in anxiety. With this anxiety, though the caregiver is fatigued, they could suffer from insomnia because they are unable to get their brain to “shut off” and rest at bedtime.

Finally, some of the common and most difficult signs of caregiver burnout is depression, anger and feelings of hopelessness. A dementia caregiver shoulders the burden of losing a piece of someone they love on a daily basis, questioning why this happened to their loved one, lamenting over how nothing will ever be the same and how their loved one’s disease isn’t curable. For a caregiver to be faced with these difficult times, without outside help, this burden can begin to overwhelm them physically and mentally.

It can be extremely difficult to provide the level of care loved ones with dementia need while balancing your own schedule and other responsibilities. If you or someone you know is showing signs and symptoms of caregiver burnout, acknowledging the need for outside assistance not only benefits caregivers, but also the individuals with dementia.

Assistance for Dementia Caregivers

If your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia and their symptoms are starting to progress or worsen, they might require additional care to ensure their full range of needs are being taken care of. Dementia care facilities provide as-needed or round-the-clock care depending on the needs of the individual. From providing assistance with medication and personal hygiene, to 24/7 monitoring and skilled nursing care, dementia care facilities provide care for every stage of Alzheimer’s and dementia, from mild (early stage) to severe (late stage).

If you are starting to see the following changes in your loved one with dementia, it may be time to find dementia assistance:

• Leaving bills unpaid
• Missing appointments
• Running out of funds
• Wandering outside the house or getting lost
• An increase in tickets or car accidents
• Inadequate hygiene and personal care
• Isolating themselves
• Experiencing an increase in falls
• Safety is becoming a concern

Helping a Loved One with Dementia

Many caregivers feel like it’s their obligation to care for their mother, father or other loved one because that’s what they’re “supposed to do,” so they might feel a sense of guilt about accepting outside assistance. However, one of the best decisions they can make – and sometimes the hardest – is recognizing they’ve done all they can do to help and allowing professionals whom specialize with dementia to help with a loved one.

Even though it’s a difficult choice, once it’s made and their loved one is happy, content and adjusted, caregivers often feel as if the weight of the world has been lifted off their shoulders. Relationships can change for the better once a loved one is in a dementia care facility because now the caregiver can go back to playing the role of a daughter, son, or other loved one. They now have more time and focus to enjoy the company of their loved one.

Finding the Right Dementia Care Facility

If you are considering your options for a dementia care facility, make sure to look for a facility that specializes in dementia. This facility or senior living community should provide a continuum of care to ensure your loved one’s needs are taken care of at every stage of their Alzheimer’s or dementia, from assisted living with memory care services for those in early stages to an onsite skilled nursing center with memory care for individuals in later stages.

Families should also verify that the facilities they are considering provide quality care. To do this, families can look at their survey books for state citations. Talking to residents and families of residents to get their opinions on the facility is another great way to determine if the facility is providing quality care. Plus, visiting the facility and talking with these individuals helps give families and prospective residents a greater understanding of whether it’s a good fit for them.

Learn more about how the facility is staffed is key to finding the right dementia care facility. Dementia care facility employees should be trained and certified to care for people with dementia. Find out if there are RNs in the building, who is responsible for administering medication and who will be providing hands on care. A low staff to resident ratio helps ensure that individuals are getting the care they need, when they need it. A low staff turnover rate is also important. Dementia residents do not like to see new faces daily so it’s imperative that staff remain the same and that special bonds are built between the resident and their aide.

Ensure that the facility has security measures in place to keep your loved one safe – from measures to prevent wandering, to locked facilities and more. In addition to protecting their safety, are there also services to benefit their health and social needs? This includes access to a 24-hour health clinic for acute medical needs, rehabilitation services and accommodating special diets. The facility should also offer a range of convenient amenities, including an engaging activity calendar and transportation services. The more engaged and stimulated residents are, the less behaviors you see. Choosing a facility with a consistent routine also help to keep residents at their highest functioning level.

Finally, take into account the cost and location of the facility. How much is the facility per day, and is this affordable? Find out if your loved one’s health insurance, long term care insurance or VA benefits will cover the cost. For the location, make sure to choose a facility that is nearby so family can visit often and maintain personal relationships with your loved one.

Your Family’s Next Steps

Take into account all that you learned to evaluate the best options for a dementia care facility near you for your loved one. Located in Sebring, Ohio, Copeland Oaks and Crandall Medical Center offer a range of living options with memory care to serve our residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Our CDPs (Certified Dementia Practitioners) and skilled nursing staff provide quality, person-centered care catered to the individual needs of all of our residents. Plus, we offer activities on campus 7 days a week to help our residents stay active and engaged.

Activities and events include musical entertainment, bible studies and devotionals, painting classes, picnics outside on our grounds, brain games such as trivia and word games, active activities like bowling, cornhole, golf, ring toss, and many more! We also do bus trips to popular restaurants and outings to popular places such as the Canfield fair and White House Fruit Farms. Plus, we encourage families to join in on the fun with their loved ones – we host family events such as trick-or-treating, our family Christmas party, Thanksgiving Hymn Sing and Summer BBQ.

Learn more about how the facility is staffed is key to finding the right dementia care facility. Dementia care facility employees should be trained and certified to care for people with dementia. Find out if there are RNs in the building, who is responsible for administering medication and who will be providing hands on care. A low staff to resident ratio helps ensure that individuals are getting the care they need, when they need it. A low staff turnover rate is also important. Dementia residents do not like to see new faces daily so it’s imperative that staff remain the same and that special bonds are built between the resident and their aide.

Sound like we could be a great fit for your loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia? Visit our campus today to see all of the amenities and services we have to offer, talk with our residents about their experience and more!