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Be as Prepared as You Can be when You’re a Caregiver for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s

Caregivers in Hunters Creek, TX – Learn as Much as Possible about Alzheimer’s Disease and It’s Progression to Provide the Best Care

Hearing that your father, who was 72 years old at the time, had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, it might have sent your entire life into a tailspin. While there is no known cause for Alzheimer’s yet, and there is no cure, there are certain risk factors that relate to genetics.

It is believed that Alzheimer’s is somewhat of a hereditary condition; in other words, if a person in your family has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, your risk increases. Because your father had been diagnosed with this form of dementia, you decided to step up and be his caregiver.

This is not an easy job to take on. Even though this is family, and even though you may feel it’s your responsibility to be there for him, as opposed to encouraging him to hire an in-home care provider or waiting until the later stages of the disease, it’s a good idea to focus on this as a job.

What do you do when you have a job?

Whether you’re working full-time, part-time, or have retired or are a stay at home parent, you likely have some experience working at some point in time in your life. When you have a job, you need to be prepared for each day.

It doesn’t matter what type of work you’re doing, even if it’s fast food you need to be prepared for what to expect during the day. What kind of assignments will you have? What potential problems could you face during the day?

It’s a good idea to think about these things when you’re a caregiver for somebody with Alzheimer’s. During the earlier stages of the disease, the most significant symptoms may be limited memory loss, some confusion with regard to language, forgetting appointments, and other such events.

A person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s will certainly be able to attend to his or her own basic care quite well during the earlier stages of the disease. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have a high level of support with them throughout the day.

Begin to learn more about what you should expect as the years progress. As the disease progresses, it will cause more confusion, increased memory loss, and potentially more anxiety. This anxiety can lead to aggression, both physically and verbally.

The more prepared you are for the long-term aspects of this disease, the better you’ll be as a family caregiver. If you want to do what’s best for your father, sit down and talk to him about hiring an experienced in-home care provider rather than trying to be his caregiver throughout the coming years.

If you have a loved one who could benefit from the help of caregivers in Hunters Creek, TX contact At Your Side Home Care. We help seniors and their families with many levels of home care service. Call (832) 271-1600 for more information.

Donna Wrabel, LMSW

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