Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease present distinct obstacles when it comes to caregiving, particularly when the objective is to help them age in place. In order to guarantee safety, comfort, and emotional well-being in the home, Alzheimer’s home care specialists can be extremely helpful. These professionals can assist loved ones in converting the senior’s home into a safe space where they can continue to live for the foreseeable future.
Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease and Its Effects
Alzheimer’s disease impacts behavior, thought, and memory. It can also have a major influence on a senior’s capacity to carry out daily tasks as it advances. Maintaining a senior’s freedom and quality of life for as long as possible requires designing a home environment that meets their evolving needs. To do this, loved ones and seniors can rely on support from an Alzheimer’s home care agency.
Home Evaluation
A comprehensive evaluation is the first step in getting a house ready for seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s to age in place. This assessment of the house looks for possible risks and areas that require adjustment, including the following:
- Recognizing Hazards to Safety: By following tips from Alzheimer’s home care, loved ones can look for typical dangers like slick surfaces, jagged edges, and congested areas. Additionally, lighting should be assessed to ensure seniors have the best visibility.
- Assessing Daily Schedules: Recommendations can also be obtained from Alzheimer’s home care regarding necessary adjustments that should be made to the daily schedule to suit the senior’s needs and habits. This conversation should also allow for flexibility as seniors’ needs change.
Putting Safety Measures in Place
Alzheimer’s home care specialists can also collaborate with families to put safety precautions in place after the assessment is finished. These could consist of:
- Fall Safety: Fall prevention measures include adding non-slip mats, installing grab bars in the bathroom, and making sure that all paths are clear of clutter.
- Safeguarding Dangerous Situations: Accidents and confusion can be avoided by keeping cleaning supplies, medications, and sharp objects locked away.
- Improving the Lighting: As mentioned above, it is essential that all rooms have sufficient lighting, especially the hallways and staircases, in order to ensure seniors can see everything they need to and keep themselves safe.
Establishing a Helpful Environment
In addition to addressing safety in the home, home care can teach loved ones how to ensure the home is helpful. This means creating an environment that promotes emotional stability, cognitive performance, and safety. Some recommended changes could include the following:
- Simple and Easy-to-See Labeling: Seniors can navigate their house more easily if rooms and items are labeled with signs that are easy to see and understand.
- Maintaining a Consistent Layout: Arranging furniture and other items in predictable locations helps lessen uncertainty and gives seniors confidence.
- Comfortable and Familiar Spaces: Adding pictures and other mementos to various rooms can give the seniors’ home a sense of continuity and familiarity. Research shows that it’s important for them to have things that trigger positive memories as they deal with Alzheimer’s disease.
Family members can use the knowledge they gain from Alzheimer’s home care to ensure their loved one’s home is safe, comfortable, and helpful for them. Doing so can help them tackle the challenges that this disease brings.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s Home Care in Colorado Springs, CO, please contact the caring staff at Talem Home Care & Placement Services of Colorado Springs, CO, today. Call (719) 639-2663
At Talem Home Care & Placement Services of Colorado Springs, CO, we provide passionate, understanding, and flexible caregivers in Colorado Springs, Air Force Academy, Black Forest, Cimarron Hills, Fort Carson, Gleneagle, Larkspur, Manitou Springs, Monument, Palmer Lake, Perry Park, Rock Creek Park, Security-Widefield, Stratmoor, and Woodmoor and surrounding areas in Colorado.
Sources:
- https://www.providentcare.com/alzheimers-care-and-aging-in-place/
- https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/caregiving-preparing-home
- https://www.carebuildersathome.com/minnesota/blog/senior-home-care-creating-a-safe-home
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