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Caring for a loved one with dementia

September 6, 2017 By Take My Hand At-Home Care

“Please remember the real me when I cannot remember you.”

This quote, sometimes referred to as the dementia creed, speaks to the pain experienced by those on both sides of a relationship with dementia. As memories fade from the minds of the elderly, they experience the loss of those they’ve loved. Meanwhile, their family caregivers do their best to look beyond the disease to the person they’ve known and loved for decades.

Nearly 16 million people in the United States are caring for a family member with dementia, according to figures from the Alzheimer’s Association. It often can seem like a lonely and overwhelming job, but help is always available.

Here are a few tips for coping with daily life as an adult family caregiver of an individual with Alzheimer’s or some other form of memory loss:

Start by learning as much as you can about dementia. Knowing about the details of the disease can help you make sense of the changes that are happening to your loved one. One great way to educate yourself is by attending the Alzheimer Society of Washington’s fall conference on Oct. 13, 2017. This year, the theme is “the changing brain.”

Be realistic about what you can and can’t do. If you’ve had children, try to remember what it was like for those first few years (well, all of them, really). Try as you did, you weren’t a perfect parent, and nor were your kids little angels. When dealing with dementia, know that there will be bad days and good days. Don’t beat yourself up if either of you struggles.

Communicate simply, clearly and positively. Starting with a smile and positive disposition can change the entire tenor of a conversation. Speak simply, with short sentences, and don’t ask complex or open-ended questions.

Love who your loved one is. Yearning for the return of the good old days can lead to dissatisfaction and depression. Instead of wishing that your loved one was like he or she was several decades ago, mourn the loss and meet your loved one in the present. Many caregivers avoid this step because it seems like such a loss. It’s true; it is a loss, and recognizing that can help you move on.

Use technology to your advantage. A number of recent tech innovations have made it easier to know that your loved one can be located should he or she wander off. The Alzheimer Society of Washington uses Project Lifesaver, which outfits those who are prone to wander with a bracelet that emits a special radio frequency, allowing them to be located by first responders in an emergency. The bracelets are free, but the service costs $15 per month for batteries and changing. Other options:

  • Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return, which partners with MedicAlert to provide a 24-hour, nationwide emergency response service.
  • MindMe is a GPS personal alarm that also comes with 24-hour emergency service.
  • Instead of being worn like a watch or pendant, the GPS SmartSole fits into a shoe; like other GPS devices for wanderers, it allows the wearer to be tracked from a computer or smartphone.

Seek assistance when needed. Call on family members to provide companionship and other help whenever possible. Join a caregiver support group to seek the advice and solace of others in your shoes. Hire a part-time caregiver to give you regular (even overnight) respite. Take My Hand At-Home Care is a locally owned and operated eldercare provider with years of experience caring for older adults with dementia in Whatcom County.

Filed Under: Aging in place, Caregiving, Long-term care, Memory loss, Resources for caregivers, Resources for senior citizens Tagged With: Alzheimer Society of WA, at-home care, Dementia Resources, hiring a caregiver, in-home caregiver, Long-term care Whatcom County, Lynden eldercare, memory loss, resources for caregivers, social isolation in senior citizens, Whatcom County elder care, Whatcom County Eldercare, Whatcom County senior citizens, where to get after hours care for seniors

Long-term care at home

May 4, 2017 By Take My Hand At-Home Care

It’s one of the most difficult family conversations there are: “What are we going to do with mom and dad when they’re no longer able to live alone? How can they live best in their elder years?”

Inevitably, the discussion comes down to a choice between In-Home assessment for Whatcom Countyhelping mom and dad keep living in their own home or transitioning to a nursing home or assisted living center when they need long-term care.

We have seen many times over the years, that there truly is no place like home for growing old.

Yes, when it comes to long-term care, there are great assisted living facilities in Whatcom County. But there’s nothing like receiving care in the family home, surrounded by comfortable, familiar surroundings.

Your parents have worked hard all their lives to provide for themselves and their family. They deserve to grow old in the familiar surroundings of the home they’ve built with love over a lifetime. At-home care by licensed nursing assistants allows for much greater levels of privacy and personal attention; private, in-home caregivers can truly transform your parents’ ability to enjoy their sunset years.

Receiving long-term care assistance at home also has the benefit of keeping your parents near the people they’ve grown to love. In addition to the familiar surroundings, friends and family can stop by to visit anytime instead of only during visiting hours, which is extremely important for many older adults.

Take My Hand At-Home Care offers all levels of caregiving at home, from part-time help to 24-hour long-term care. You only pay for the level of service needed to allow your dad or mom to receive long-term care in the comfort of their home.

No two people are the same, after all, and everyone’s needs are different. For every client, Take My Hand conducts a confidential, complimentary in-home assessment to help everyone involved make informed decisions about the level of care needed. Some care recipients only need part-time assistance – four hours a day, two or three days a week — and some need more robust, 24-hour long-term care. Take My Hand’s caregivers have the experience to handle it all.

With the right help your parents can receive long-term care in the comfort of their home. Our licensed Whatcom County caregivers can make meals, provide accompaniment to doctor visits, help with medication monitoring and much, much more.

For more information, just give Take My Hand a call or send an email. We provide affordable eldercare services in Lynden, Bellingham and throughout Whatcom County.

Filed Under: Aging in place, Caregiving, Long-term care, Resources for senior citizens Tagged With: Aging-In-Place, at-home care, caregiver for older adults, hiring a caregiver, in-home caregiver, overnight caregiving, Whatcom County elder care, Whatcom County senior citizens

How to help your parent recover from surgery

June 8, 2016 By Take My Hand At-Home Care

dependent-441408_960_720Surgery can be a challenging and traumatic experience for older adults, but what happens in the days and weeks after the surgery is often challenging.

Picture this: Your mom or dad is at a follow-up appointment but can’t remember what questions to ask. There are piles of medicines at home that they can’t remember to — or don’t want to — take. Around every corner is the possibility of a bad fall. And then they have to remember to cook food that matches post-op dietary needs. Heck, they have to be able to cook food that matches their dietary needs. That’s a lot to worry about.

Related: 6 tips for caregiving at home after a hospital stay

And if you can’t be around to help, post-operative time is probably just as overwhelming for you. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Caregiving, Long-term care, Resources for caregivers Tagged With: hiring a caregiver, Lynden Caregivers, Lynden eldercare, post operative caregiving, Whatcom County Eldercare

6 tips for caregiving at home after a hospital stay.

April 5, 2016 By Take My Hand At-Home Care

photo-1422190441165-ec2956dc9eccSo, your spouse needs to have surgery and you are ready, willing and eager to be their caregiver as they recover. That’s awesome—they are lucky you’re available to help!

You’ve taken a few days off of work, have a book to read or Netflix shows to catch up on while your partner is napping. The fridge has been stocked with groceries—you’re good to go, right?

Almost. There are some important things you should know as you take on the role of caregiver after a hospital discharge. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Caregiving, Resources for caregivers, Resources for senior citizens Tagged With: caregiver respite, caregiving at home, hiring a caregiver, Lynden Caregivers, Whatcom County Eldercare

Hire a caregiver service or private individual–consider the options

January 11, 2016 By Take My Hand At-Home Care

Older or disabled adults living at home often need daily assistance with personal care and basic daily living tasks. These might include help with bathing, meal preparation, medication monitoring, providing transportation to doctor appointments, and light housekeeping.

Take My Hand At-Home Care, Lynden and Whatcom County

Some are fortunate enough to have a family member step in to help, or a friend from the community or a church parish member they trust.

Others need to hire a local caregiver because they don’t have family nearby or they don’t want to trouble friends and neighbors, or they simply want to maintain privacy with regards to receiving help with personal care. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Aging in place, Caregiving Tagged With: Aging-In-Place, Blaine caregivers, hiring a caregiver, Lynden caregiving, Whatcom County Eldercare

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ABOUT US

Take My Hand At-Home Care is fully licensed, bonded and insured and has been locally owned and operated since 2012. It is currently owned by Matt … Read More...

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Recent Posts

  • Give dad what he really needs this Father’s Day
  • Simple bathroom safety updates for older adults
  • 5 podcasts for senior wellness 
  • How to reduce stress, avoid chronic disease
  • How to help older loved ones sleep better

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