The anxiety caused from disorientation can often be the most dangerous things about the condition. Not knowing the time of day or who is around to take care of them is scary, and frustration can make the situation more volatile. The most important thing to help someone in this situation is to ensure someone is always around to take care of them. If a relative is unable to take care of the individual at all times of day, there are many places that offer Alzheimer’s care in Philadelphia to bridge the caretaking gap.

Along with making sure someone is around, it is also important to remove objects that could potentially be harmful in a fit of confusion. Most importantly, if a loved one has become so disoriented that they are frequently forgetting where they are throughout the day, it is probably time to cut off their access to a vehicle. Additionally, common household tasks like cooking and cleaning can become dangerous for the person suffering from disorientation and others in the home. Friends, relatives, and caretakers should be prepared to take on those tasks as much as possible.

Additionally, putting signs and pictures on various places throughout the home can help a loved one remember where they are inside of their home. It is much better to visit a loved one, rather than rotate them between the homes of relatives, as consistency can help reduce disorientation in the home. At a certain point, it may be necessary to reintroduce certain people to a loved one suffering from dementia, so be sure to use orienting names whenever it seems necessary (e.g. “your daughter Carol”).

When dealing with a loved one who is suffering from confusion and disorientation, always respond to them with confidence and assurance to prevent further frustration and anxiety. While the condition is hard for everyone, be as communicative and understanding as possible when with a loved one suffering from dementia. Caring for someone with memory loss alone can be a daunting task, so don’t be afraid to reach out to friends and family or Alzheimer’s caretakers, who are trained to look after dementia sufferers in their own homes.

The post Helping loved ones with disorientation and confusion appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.

 The most common signs of Alzheimer’s are memory loss, difficulty completing once easy tasks, confusion, disorientation, trouble understanding spatial relationships, difficulty with speaking or writing, misplacing things, poor decision-making and changes in mood. While the majority of people with the Alzheimer’s are older than 65, about five percent of people with the disease begin developing symptoms before that age, with some as young as 40 or 50.

The rate at which dementia progresses depends on the person. In the early stages of the disease, and individual can still drive, do most familiar activities and partake in normal social activity. However, mild expressions of symptoms can include having trouble finding the right word or difficulty with short-term memory and concentration. A doctor can likely identify the onset of the disease after an evaluation.

Middle stages of the disease will begin to show deeper memory loss, including of one’s own personal history, frustration, disorientation and needing help with some common tasks, such as getting dressed. At this stage, an individual might need help from an caretaker in Philadelphia to complete some more difficult tasks. However, they should still be able to remember significant details and complete simple tasks.

The late stages of dementia require an individual to have constant care and attention. At this stage, the individual will likely need significant help with their daily activities and likely require an elder care specialist in Philadelphia. Making sure a loved one suffering from the disease is safe and comfortable is the most important thing to do at this stage, so make any necessary living arrangements for them once they begin showing signs of being in the late stages of the disease.

An individual has the best chance of slowing the disease when is in its earliest stages. Lifestyle changes like reducing sugar and salt, good nutrition, routine exercise, quitting smoking, getting adequate sleep and reducing stress can all help slow the onset of the disease. Even if an elderly loved one is not experiencing any signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia, consider helping them adopt healthier habits to reduce their risk of the disease. While there is currently no cure for the disease, current treatments can help slow its progress and make life easier for those suffering with it and their caretakers.

The post Early signs of Alzheimer’s and how to slow its onset appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.

Susan from Philadelphia, whose mother needs Alzheimer’s care, told us: “My mom just can’t understand why everyone’s against her. She thinks me – her only daughter – is trying to hurt her. She’s confused because she thinks she can’t trust anyone. She imagines people hiding in her attic and children stealing ice creams from her freezer. It’s upsetting to see her when she’s not in control of her own mind.”

Mildred lost her husband Geoffrey twenty years ago, and became more withdrawn as her years of living alone increased. A very active elder in Philadelphia, she didn’t need care for many years. After about ten years of living alone, the memory loss started. Susan told us:

“At first, it’s hard to know what’s normal memory loss due to old age and what’s really a problem with a person’s brain. It’s hard to think that your own mom might be getting ill. My mom in particular was very clear that she didn’t want any help from outside the family, so we rarely talked about the issue. It became a bit of a family taboo.”

This scenario often happens with families, when elders are in denial of their condition and skeptical about diagnosis, treatment and care. It’s important for people to know that a person’s chances of living well for longer with degenerative brain disease increase the sooner they are diagnosed. So people who have a feeling something’s wrong should encourage relatives or friends to go for a simple memory test.

Once any form of dementia is too far progressed, it becomes harder for people to recognize that there’s anything wrong with them. When it gets to this stage, it’s harder to get appropriate help at home.

Even if loved ones seem well now, it’s a good idea to start thinking about a care plan for later in life. People now live healthily and happily at home for much longer. It’s possible to hire people to come round, make some toast and stay for a cup of coffee. Sometimes just a bit of company and conversation once or twice a week is enough to keep an older person mentally active.

People are advised to look out for the signs and symptoms and get help if they’re in doubt. The long-term health of their loved ones depends on it.

The post What it’s like to live with Alzheimer’s appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.

There are a few ways to help an elderly individual feel at home and feel important at the same time, even when they are suffering from memory loss or any other mental condition. One of the best ways to help an elderly relative is to hire Alzheimer’s care in Philadelphia. When a person hires this type of support, then they are basically welcoming an expert caretaker into their home who will be able to help their senior relative get through their day as calmly as possible.

Apart from hiring the professionals, individuals need to keep a few factors in mind themselves. The first thing is that when a senior relative is being communicated with, then all other distractions need to be minimized in the background. If the TV is blaring or there is music playing, or even if the tap is running; everything needs to be shut off so that the senior can concentrate on the words as best as possible.

Another rule to keep in mind is that when communicating, a person should ensure they are making full eye contact and doing everything in their power to understand what their relative actually has to say. A person should also make sure to speak calmly and clearly without using too many extra words in their sentences.

A common mistake then many individuals make is that they begin to treat their seniors as if they were children. This is a major mistake. Senior citizens are not like children and many of them hold themselves with as much dignity as they possibly can. A person has to remember that they could very easily find themselves in the same position a few years down the road so it is best to treat them with love and empathy, and not as a burden.

Elderly individuals often need help bathing, eating, and doing the most basic things during the day. A person should take every precaution necessary to ensure that their relative is getting as much attention as they need. This can be a very tasking job but at the end of the day, it is well worth it to know that one is helping someone who has given so much during their life. The elderly need to be cared for, while at the same time being treated with respect and dignity.

Living with a relative that has memory loss can be difficult, but with professional help and with a little patience it can actually be a very enriching experience.

The post How to Help a Senior with Alzheimer’s appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.

The truth is that even as a person ages they will always love to be at home. An overwhelming majority of senior citizens agree that they prefer to be with their family members and loved ones, that they prefer to be at home at all times even when they have aged significantly and even when they need constant care.

Senior citizens have given so much to the community and they truly deserve to enjoy their golden years as much as they can. They already have to worry about so many aches and pains, the last thing they need to suffer is the emotional turmoil of being forced to stay away from their families and those whom they love most.

When a senior requires constant attention but does not want to leave their family then the home caretaking option is the perfect solution. Senior caretaking is basically professional elder care in Philadelphia, in which the experts come and provide support to the senior in their place of residence. This is the perfect solution because it gives seniors the attention they need while at the same time allowing them to stay in that area which they absolutely love the most.

Having a senior stay in their house without proper caretaking assigned to them is dangerous, particularly for those elders who suffer from mental disorders. Alzheimer’s care in Philadelphia is readily available for those elderly individuals who are beginning to lose their memory. Memory loss can be very dangerous and it can often leave seniors feeling very confused. Seniors need to make sure they take their medications and that they eat on time and that’s where caretaking professionals will be able to step in and quite literally save the day.

Every person has their own dreams and goals no matter what their age is. Caring for seniors is a major privilege because it enables adults to give back to those who cherished them when they needed it moist. However, the busy lifestyle most young adults have does not leave a lot of time for helping out the elderly. Hiring caregiving services is a great way to overcome this hurdle and keep one’s loved one at home while giving them all the attention they need at the same time.

The post Benefits of In-Home Care appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.

There are often some signs of dementia that get to be too obvious to ignore, and this is one of the first signs that it is time to seek out help. If the cleanliness of the home or the physical appearance of the loved one start to change, it could be a sign that something is changing either physically or mentally for them. Sometimes these changes are obvious, but other times it could be as simple as forgetting how to do something that they used to do frequently. Often, the first sign is that the household chores have piled up and the home may not be as neat as it usually is. You may notice that your loved one forgets to take medication, or that they don’t keep a lot of food in the house and start losing weight.

Caregiver burnout is another reason for many to seek out Alzheimer’s care in Philadelphia. As much as most people want to care for their aging parents themselves, the task can sometimes become too demanding. This is exacerbated by the fact that many adults work for a living and cannot be there all of the time for their parents. If you are experiencing more anxiety or depression, or starting to lose your patience, it may be time to get a specialist to come to the home and help with the workload.

Once you have determined that it may be time to hire some extra help, it is important that you talk to your loved one in a moment where they are lucid. You can use this time to explain to them that you are getting some extra help around the home. Don’t be surprised if you frequently have to remind them, however. Having your loved one help you choose someone may be something you want to consider.

Alzheimer’s care can be a very demanding requirement, and it is often one that family members cannot handle completely alone. If you have a loved one with advancing dementia, hiring some help in the home may be necessary for the benefit of everyone involved.

The post When to Make the Decision to Hire In-Home Care appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.

The first benefit is that the environment that your loved one will be in is familiar. They will not have to move out of their homes and into a strange place. Being around familiarity can be extremely important for those who have memory issues, because drastic changes can often scare them or cause them to get stressed out. On a similar note, having a situation where someone comes to the home provides a routine that the senior can get used to. Routines are also soothing and can help with memory issues in some cases.

Another benefit to hiring someone to help with your loved one’s Alzheimer’s care in Philadelphia is that it allows your loved one to form meaningful relationships with their caregivers. Since the caregiver is coming to the home, it provides one-on-one time that a nursing home simply cannot provide. This allows the caregiver to really get to know your loved one, which can have a multitude of benefits including knowing how to sooth them and knowing what kinds of things they like. In this way, many professional caregivers become almost like family or they become a close friend of the patient, which can be very important in cases where the patient may not have much in the way of friends anymore. It also provides the caregiver with the opportunity to notice even the smallest changes in the client as they age or the dementia becomes worse. Knowing when things are changing early on can help the caregiver change their routine in order to evolve.

Making the decision to put the care of your elderly loved one in someone else’s hands can be a very tough decision to make. Even once you make that decision, you still have to decide whether they are going to go into a nursing home or have someone come to them. With the many benefits of elder care, many people choose this route and have the caregiver come to the home instead of making their loved one move. There are many options available, such as whether to have someone come in full time or only for a few hours to help you with some of the tasks.

The post Why Elder Care Is Ideal for Dementia Patients appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.

Sticking to a Regular Schedule

When a person has trouble remembering important information or small details about what’s going on and who they are, it might be helpful to stick to a regular schedule as much as possible. This may include eating regular meals at the same times, or enjoying certain activities at certain times. This may help the patient retain more of a grip on important information such as what’s going on and why they’re being cared for in the first place. People tend to feel more comfortable when they can anticipate what’s going to happen next at any given moment.

Keeping Everything in the Same Place

Patients can get easily confused if they can’t find something they own or are looking for something they need. This might be their favorite book, a blanket that carries a lot of emotional significance or another personal item the patient cares for deeply. When a person can’t find what they’re looking for, they can get upset and act out. That’s why it’s so important for the patient’s loved ones and caregivers to do everything they can to keep objects in the same place, especially if they know that these objects are important to the patient or that they will need them at some point.

Constant Reminders

Caregivers and the patient’s loved ones can also help the patient feel more informed by giving them constant reminders about who they are and what’s going on. While many of these reminders might go in one ear and out the other, they can help the patient feel more connected to what’s going on in the moment. While the patient’s loved ones might get sick of having to tell the patient the same information over and over again, this is an important part of caring for someone with memory issues.

Those looking for a company that specializes in Alzheimer’s care in Philadelphia can look around online for more information to ensure they find the right caregiver to make their loved one comfortable at home.

The post Ways to Help Alzheimer’s Patients Feel More at Home appeared first on 5 Star Home Care.