Encouraging Independence with Daily Care Needs During the Middle Stage of Alzheimer's Disease
Independence is an important concept for everyone, and that does not change for those who are living with Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, those seniors who are suffering the effects of this disease often cling to their independence even more and seek as many ways as they can to express themselves and their autonomy. This is because they know that they are dealing with challenges and limitations and want to find as many ways as possible to feel that they are still in control of their life as much as they can.
Home Care in Highland Park IL: Encouraging Independence
Encouraging your parent to have as much independence as possible during each stage of the progression of Alzheimer’s disease is an important part of your role as a family caregiver. There are many ways that you can do this, but one that you can use frequently each day is through their personal care needs. The decisions that you make for your own care needs are likely something that you do not think about because they are so commonplace. For your parent, however, these decisions can be a valuable way to express themselves and maintain control over their life.
Some of the ways that you can encourage independence with daily care needs during the middle stage of Alzheimer’s disease include:
- Give your parent two options for outfits so that they can choose the one that they want to wear. Avoid too many options as this can be overwhelming and confusing.
- Lay out their clothes in the proper order so that they can confidently go through the process of dressing themselves.
- Offer options for what they will eat at each meal. Avoid asking what they want to eat as they might not be able to come up with the something that is appropriate.
- Brush out their hair to remove tangles, but then give them the brush and encourage them to brush it a few times.
- Invest in eating utensils designed to address eating difficulties so that they can better manage the challenges that they face.
- Model behaviors such as brushing your teeth so that they can follow you and make sure that they handle these tasks effectively.
Starting home care for your elderly parent can be one of the best decisions that you make for them in the course of your caregiver journey with them. The highly personalized services of an in-home senior care services provider are specifically tailored to address your parent’s individual challenges, needs, and limitations in the way that is right for them. These services are designed to help your parent stay healthy, safe, comfortable, and happy while also pursuing as much independence, activity, and fulfillment as possible as they age in place. These services can include assistance with personal care needs, support fulfilling activities of daily living, safe and reliable transportation to where your parent needs and wants to go, and companionship to boost mental and emotional health. When it comes to care for a senior who is living with Alzheimer’s disease, this care provider can not only help your parent handle the symptoms and challenges that they are facing now, but also prepare them for those issues that they will face in the future as they progress through the disease.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Highland Park, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.
Sources
www.alz.org/care/dementia-communication-tips.asp
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