When a spouse is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, it may feel like the world has crashed around you. Sure, you probably noticed some of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s. Maybe you didn’t think it was Alzheimer’s, but they simply becoming more forgetful. In time, though, before the formal diagnosis was handed down, that word probably floated through your mind. Seek out support for you both with Alzheimer’s home care services.
Yet, nothing can prepare you for when somebody you love is diagnosed with a disease like Alzheimer’s. You want to be there for him or her. You took your vow seriously. Even now, you see the same person you fell in love with sitting beside you, standing before you, or lying next to you.
You want nothing more than for them to have the highest quality of life possible, to be safe, and to remain home. That’s what they want, too, to remain home for the rest of their life, if possible. With the right in-home care, it is possible.
You also should understand there are ways you can help support your spouse going through one of the most challenging moments of their life.
1. Listen to what they say and want early on.
Most people would prefer to remain home for as long as possible. Some people are realistic and believe it won’t be possible, but during the early years upon diagnosis, an elderly person with Alzheimer’s will likely feel physically capable.
In time, though, that will change. They will understand something is not quite right. Even when they have moments of extreme confusion and massive holes in their memory, they know there’s something wrong.
Have conversations with this person you’ve devoted your life to. Talk about their dreams, aspirations, or things they might still want to do. Listen to what they have to say. And when the topic of remaining home comes up, you can discuss Alzheimer’s home care.
2. Practice alternate forms of communication.
Instead of just sitting watching TV, which is a passive activity that does the brain no good, have conversations. Talk about the memories you two shared. Go through old photo albums. Mention people you both knew 20, 40, or even 50 years ago.
Go for walks and have conversations. Write letters. Send cards. All of this influences the brain in different ways and is a great way to help that person cope with this disease as it progresses.
3. Find the right support for you.
Make no mistake, this is going to be tough for them and you. If you don’t have support to turn to, people to talk to and who will listen to you, it’s going to make everything much tougher. So, early on, find quality support groups in your area, preferably other family members who are supporting loved ones through this difficult disease.
4. Find the best long-term support for your spouse.
Alzheimer’s home care from somebody who has experience working with other seniors diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia is a great option. This can help alleviate a lot of the stress and strain on your mind and body and they will likely have strategies to help the senior that you haven’t even thought about yet.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s Home Care Services in Chatham NJ, please get in touch with the caring staff at Helping Hands Homecare today. Call (908) 418-4299
Helping Hands Homecare provides Senior Home Care Services throughout Northern and Central New Jersey, including Clark, Westfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Rahway, Linden, Summit, Edison, Elizabeth, Mountainside, Short Hills, Millburn, New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Kenilworth, Chatham, Madison, Metuchen, and surrounding areas.
After graduating from Seton Hall University with a BS in finance Helping Hands Homecare’s Owner / President, Robert D’Arienzo, went to work on Wall St. for six years. However, after Robert’s grandmother became ill with stomach cancer Robert and his family needed to find assistance in the home for her. After many trials and tribulations Robert could see that there was a great need for quality home care services here in NJ and loved the idea of being able to assist other families who were going through what his family went through with his beloved grandmother.
Thus, Robert had found his passion. After almost a year of preparation Robert opened Helping Hands Homecare in 2003. Robert wanted Helping Hands Homecare to focus on providing the highest quality of caregivers, exceptional customer service, and providing a service that familys could depend on in their time of need. Since then Helping Hands has assisted hundreds of individuals with the simplest of needs to more complex cases while preserving those standards set out many years ago.
Robert is a Google Verified Author
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