Alzheimer’s Care
What is Alzheimer’s Care?
Alzheimer’s care is simply caring for individuals diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is memory loss. Alzheimer’s disease (Alzheimer’s) is the most common form of Dementia. Alzheimer’s is causing about ¾ of all reported cases of Dementia and believed to be the worst form. In 1906, Alois Alzheimer identified the first case of “presenile dementia”. This condition was later named Alzheimer’s disease after Alois Alzheimer to give him credit. Though Alzheimer’s is often diagnosed in seniors in their mid 60s, early onset of the disease may occur in people, in their 40s and 50s.
Seniors’ early symptom of Alzheimer’s such as memory impairment is often misconstrued to be just part of aging. The physician confirms the diagnosis of AD by having the seniors receive lots of behavioral assessments and memory tests. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, symptoms may include aggressiveness, disorientation, mood swings, and long-term memory loss. Advanced stage of Alzheimer’s may even lead to death as the seniors may severely weaken. Alzheimer’s disease is degenerative and incurable. Managing Alzheimer’s includes giving the right diet, mental stimulation, exercise, well managed care giving, and proper medications. Alzheimer’s caregivers provide an enormous amount of patience to Alzheimer’s seniors. Alzheimer’s caregivers or family caregivers may contact their local Alzheimer’s Support Center or Alzheimer’s Support Network for advice or assistance.
What are Dementia/Alzheimer’s Facilities?
Alzheimer’s facilities are housing that are specially designed for memory impaired senior. When dementia care at home is no longer an option, children move their parent to Alzheimer’s housing. This secured housing limits access of senior residents with Dementia to areas that may put the seniors unsafe.
Senior’s decline in cognitive function puts the senior at risk living alone. Alzheimer’s caregivers in the community help seniors with their activities of daily living. Alzheimer’s caregivers provide around-the-clock help with services such as bathing, dressing, medication monitoring, food services and more. Alzheimer’s activities help seniors reduce agitation, tension, and anxiety. The sole purpose of Alzheimer’s assisted living is to provide senior with dementia a supportive environment to promote quality of life, personalized care, safety, and independence in a secured community at the same time preserving senior’s rights and dignity. Alzheimer’s assisted living community provides ongoing In-service training to Alzheimer’s caregivers to improve dementia care, establish more effective communication, and behavioral management. The community also provides Alzheimer’s support to families who are beginning to understand more of the Alzheimer’s disease process.
What are some of the physical design/features of a Dementia Facility?
The structure of Alzheimer’s home or community has a distinctive design to accommodate the needs of senior with dementia. The housing design reduces disorientation. This Alzheimer’s home provides comprehensive monitoring of senior in a safe and secured environment. They built this housing with secured courtyards and walkways; adequate lighting that which minimizes glare; high contrast between floors, doorways, and walls; visual cues; and memory-oriented displays for intellectual stimulation. Alzheimer’s care units may exist in an assisted living community or housing, nursing home, or stand alone Dementia Facility.