Should You Start Home Care Early in Your Parent’s Journey with Alzheimer’s Disease?

Home Care in East Hampton NY

As a family caregiver for an elderly adult coping with Alzheimer’s disease you will make many important decisions. Ensuring that you make these decisions properly is one of the most influential things that you can do to help ensure your aging parent manages the progression of their disease in the best way possible for them. One of these decisions will be when to start home care for them. Hiring an in-home senior care services provider in the home with them can help your aging parent to address their needs and live the highest quality of life possible as they age in place, but determining when to start this care can be difficult.

As their family caregiver you want to do what is best for them and ensure that they get the care and assistance that is right for them, but as their adult child you may be resistant to the idea of having someone else come into your care routine with your senior. It is important to you that your parent get dedicated, devoted care tailored to their specific needs, and you may think that that means that you must handle all of their care needs yourself. As a family caregiver caring for a senior progressing through Alzheimer’s disease, you will need help managing all of your parent’s care demands, especially as they move further into the stages of their condition. Starting home care early can help you to manage your loved one’s needs in a way that supports the most fulfilling lifestyle for them as they age in place.

Some of the ways that starting home care early can improve your parent’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease include:

• Encouraging independence. The progression through Alzheimer’s disease will eventually take away your parent’s ability to live completely on their own. This can occur earlier in the progression than many people expect, and without the proper level of care and assistance during this change your parent could be at risk. This does not mean, however, that they cannot maintain a level of independence. Having home care can help them to continue doing as much for themselves as possible, and minimize the amount that they have to rely on you to care for them.
• Building a relationship. It is important to remember when you hire a care provider for your parent that you are asking them to put their trust and reliance in a stranger to help them handle their care needs. This can be difficult and uncomfortable for them, particularly if they have spent most of their life being highly self-reliant. Starting this type of care relationship early in your parent’s progression with Alzheimer’s disease means that they have the opportunity to build their relationship with their care provider when they are still in control of their cognitive functioning. While they may not hold onto this relationship in their memories as they progress, having the foundation of a relationship will improve their care and their mental and emotional health as they progress.
• Protecting your wellbeing. Being a family caregiver is extremely challenging. You will face many demands that are difficult for your mind and your body. Pushing yourself too hard can result in stress, burnout, and increased vulnerability to a variety of illnesses and health complications. Starting care early means that you are able to pace yourself, get the rest and relaxation that you need, and avoid sensitive tasks that can increase your level of stress. This keeps you at your healthiest and strongest so that you can be the best caregiver you can be for your loved one.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional home care in East Hampton, NY, call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at 631-685-5001.