Dementia and Alzheimer’s care tips from the experts at Senior Homecare by Angels

If you or your loved one are facing an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis, you probably have lots of questions about what that means now and in the future. These diseases can have wide-ranging impacts on patients, families, and providers, but there are many resources you can access, as well. Alzheimer’s care has advanced in recent years to include many therapies, treatments, and a wider variety of care providers.

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia. Dementia is a classification of degenerative cognitive diseases that can cause problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. With Alzheimer’s, symptoms usually develop slowly, and will become worse over time. Severe or advanced Alzheimer’s interferes with daily tasks and day-to-day living. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases.

How is that different than aging?

It’s important to recognize that dementia and Alzheimer’s are not a normal part of the aging process. While cognitive abilities may change or slow throughout the aging process, Alzheimer’s can make it hard to function on a daily basis. Alzheimer’s can also appear earlier in life; this is called early-onset, can affect adults by as early as their 40s or 50s.

What are common symptoms of Alzheimer's?

A common early symptom of Alzheimer’s is difficulty remembering new information or adjusting to new changes in daily life. This is because Alzheimer’s disease begins in the part of the brain that is dedicated to learning and processing new information. As the disease becomes worse, symptoms can include worsening confusion about time and life events, feeling lost or confused, mood swings, changes in behavior and personality, or difficulty speaking, walking, or swallowing.

How does Alzheimer’s develop?

Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, meaning that it will get worse, or have a greater impact on health, over time. There are 7 stages of Alzheimer's Disease. In the early stages, memory loss may be minor, or not a primary symptom. In later stages, memory loss is significant and impacts an individual’s ability to concentrate, complete tasks, recognize others, and keep track of life events.

What care is available for seniors with Alzheimer's in Canada?

Alzheimer’s care is dedicated to the treatments and therapies that help patients have the best quality of life possible. There is no current cure for Alzheimer’s, but research is ongoing and has given us a wide range of treatment possibilities. There are social and behavioral treatments, medication treatments, and lifestyle changes that can all help moderate the symptoms.

Alzheimer’s care can be provided in-home or accessed as part of a live-in program, such as in assisted living or a nursing home. Senior Homecare by Angels offers trained and experienced caregivers who specialize in providing in-home care for seniors with dementia and Alzheimer's, who know how to work specifically with clients who have these diseases.

Anyone experiencing dementia-like symptoms should speak with their doctor as soon as possible. If you need assistance finding a doctor with cognitive disease experience, the local Alzheimer’s Society chapter can direct you to additional resources. It’s important to access Alzheimer’s care as soon as possible to mediate the symptoms of the disease. Senior Homecare by Angels is your partner in providing great care to loved ones who have received an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis.

To learn more about the custom care plans that Senior Homecare by Angels can create for your loved one, contact your local office today. 

Each Senior Home Care by Angels agency is a franchise that is independently owned and operated. The Franchisor, Visiting Homecare International Inc., does not control or manage the day to day business operations of any Senior Home Care by Angels franchised agency.