When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, making a care plan is one of the most important first steps to take. Ultimately, depending on the type of dementia, your loved one may need occasional assisted living services, in-home care, and ultimately hospice in Memphis for his or her comfort and safety. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, here is a closer look at the steps involved in providing care.

Assisted Living Services

In the early stages of dementia, your loved one may only need occasional help with things like cooking and cleaning that can become dangerous for someone with dementia. People with dementia that can benefit from assisted living services are usually have mild symptoms and are still able to provide most of their own care. Assisted living support from a home care aide can supplement the care provided by your family as much or as little as you prefer, in accordance with your schedule and your loved one’s needs.

In-Home Care

Around-the-clock in-home care is the next step in most dementia care plans. This level of care becomes necessary when it is no longer safe for your loved one to be home alone. An in-home care aide can assist with meal preparation, cleaning, errands, medication reminders, and companionship. He or she can keep your loved one feeling safe and secure. Again, full-time in-home care schedules can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your family.

Hospice Care

When your loved one is in need of end-of-life care, trained hospice care providers can support your entire family while ensuring your loved one is comfortable. Many people who get hospice care for a loved one are grateful for the support they received and the ability to be able to focus on spending time with their loved one at the end of his or her life. Hospice care providers can work with your loved one’s medical team to ensure that he or she has everything they need to be peaceful and comfortable.

Back surgery is a serious procedure that typically involves a lengthy recovery. You or your loved one may spend a period of time in an in-patient treatment facility before transitioning to care at home. Having a plan for recovery that includes a plan for an in-home caregiver in Memphis and the appropriate assisted living services before the surgery is essential, so you can avoid being forced into making rushed decisions at a stressful time. If back surgery is on your schedule, here are some ways to plan for your recovery.

Get Recovery Supplies

After back surgery, it may be necessary to rely on medical devices, such as a walker, cane, toilet chair, and shower bars. Get these items before the procedure so they are set-up and ready to be used. The back surgeon will also provide prescriptions for pain medications and in some cases, antibiotics that can be filled before surgery. It is very important to stay on top of pain medication doses and refills, so that there is no risk of running out of the medications.

Make a Plan for Caregiving

Whether you or your loved one go straight home after surgery or spend time in a in-patient facility, it will be necessary to have in-home caregiving for an extended period of time. Decide how much care can be provided by family members, if any, and when you will need a home care aide to give assistance. Set up a schedule that includes the right mix of assisted living care provided by an in-home caregiver and care provided by loved ones.

Focus on Transition Care

The time in which patients leave the hospital and return home can be especially dangerous and demanding after back surgery. The risk of falling is high, and patients need assistance with everything from personal hygiene to transportation. Hiring a home care aide for transition care helps families feel confident that their loved ones always have the assistance they need during this crucial part of recovery.

When families have to come together to make decisions about elderly care for an aging loved one, there are several choices to make. Even if you wish to provide the bulk of the in-home care yourself, respite care is an important thing to include in your plan. No caregiver can provide care without a break and still provide the kind of support he or she wants to give a loved one. An in-home caregiver in Memphis can help you be the best caregiver you can by providing respite care.

Respite care is a short-term relief to caregivers that allows them to focus on their own well-being, while feeling confident that their loved ones needs are being met. An elder care provider can provide respite care so you can have a lunch with a friend, an afternoon on your own, or a vacation with your family. Respite care can also help you keep up work duties or even catch up on sleep. It is an important way of caring for your own wellbeing, so you can then care for your loved one.

When a loved one needs hospice care in Memphis because he or she is approaching the end of life, there can be anxiety, particularly among family members, about what to expect. What this video for insight into what may happen at the end of life.

One researcher who has looked extensively into the dying process has found that most people receiving end of life care experience a sense of peace. Family members usually find that being present for end of life care and seeing a loved one pass is a moving experience that brings closeness and closure. Overall, hospice care and the end of life process can be an important time for family members to spend together, and most terminally ill people are peaceful, not fearful, of the process.

When a terminally ill loved one needs care at home, whether he or she needs a caregiver while treatment is ongoing or it is time for hospice care in Memphis , there are unique needs that must be met. It is helpful to choose a caregiver with experience in home care for the terminally ill to ensure your loved one gets the necessary level of care and so you can reduce the pressure on yourself.

First and foremost, a terminally ill loved one may need practical care to assist with basic, everyday needs, such as hygiene and meal preparation. An in-home caregiver can offer this kind of support when you must be at work or when you need respite care. Your terminally ill loved one also needs care that is designed for his or her comfort and dignity. It is common for people to deal with a range of emotions while facing a terminal illness, and your loved one should never feel dismissed or like he or she is a burden to a caregiver. Hiring an experienced caregiver is the best way to make sure that a terminally ill loved one’s needs are being met.

When a loved one has dementia, learning a new way to communicate with him or her can be difficult. Fortunately, with a little effort, you can still maintain a special connection with your loved one, even as his or her memory fails. Often, your in-home elder care provider can offer advice based on his or her experience working with people with dementia in Memphis . These tips will also help.

Set the Tone

You can have more productive communication with a loved one with dementia if you choose the right time and place. Make sure there are no distractions, such as TV or radio, when you begin a conversation. Sit close to your loved one and position yourself so that you are facing him or her directly. The lighting should be adequate so that your face can clearly be seen. Keep your body language relaxed, even if you feel nervous and frustrated. It is more useful to begin conversations when your loved one’s needs have been adequately satisfied, so ask his or her elder care provider when your loved one has last eaten and when he or she usually sleeps.

Keep it Simple

Dementia can make following multi-layered conversations difficult, so keep things simple to avoid frustration. Stick to one topic. It can even be helpful to choose a topic in advance and plan some of the things you would like to say. Your sentences should be short, and you should choose simple words. Don’t talk to your loved one as though he or she is a child. Address him or her in a normal tone of voice and be respectful. Dementia can be isolating, and your loved one may feel like he or she is no longer valued.

Be a Good Listener

Your loved one with dementia will still have many ideas he or she wants to express, so be sure to be a good listener. If you aren’t sure you have understood, repeat the point back to verify it. Pay close attention to your loved one’s body language. As dementia affects your loved one’s ability to speak, his or her body language will be a central part of how he or she communicates. Always let your loved one express his or her feelings without dismissing them.

No one likes to think about his or her own death or the death of a loved one, but planning for end-of-life care can make a painful situation easier for everyone. Hospice care in Memphis can play an important part in end-of-life care. Watch this video to learn more.

Try starting a conversation about end-of-life care before someone is facing a terminal illness so that you know your loved one preferences. There are many different options, including terminally ill caregiving at home and hospice home care that provides support for both the patient and the family. Deciding about end-of-life care before it is needed helps families focus on the time they have left together when a terminal illness occurs.

Senior assisted living services are often utilized when a loved one is in declining health, but it’s also a good idea to hire an in-home caregiver in Memphis when a loved one is discharged from the hospital after surgery. This is known as transitional care because the patient is transitioning from hospital care to assisted living care at home. An assisted living provider can help recovering patients with a wide range of post-operative challenges.

Medication Management

After an operation, there may be a number of different medications that a patient might need to take. Typically, post-operative patients take antibiotics and narcotic pain relievers, followed by over-the-counter pain relievers as healing progresses. Some patients might also need to take blood-thinners to reduce the risk of blood clots in addition to their normal medications. It can be a challenge to juggle all of these pills. An in-home caregiver providing transitional care can help patients manage medications by providing medication reminders. This prevents the possibility that a patient might accidentally skip a dose or take an extra dose.

Personal Hygiene

Some surgeries are minimally invasive and may only impose minor limitations on movement. Other operations require a large incision, which can significantly interfere with a patient’s mobility and self-care abilities, particularly if the patient wasn’t in good overall health before the surgery. A transitional care provider may be essential for the patient’s hygiene. Caregivers can assist patients with bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting, among other routine tasks.

Household Upkeep

For a healthy recovery from surgery, it’s essential to follow the doctor’s post-operative instructions carefully. Usually, these instructions will include limitations on heavy lifting, bending over, and any other strenuous activities. Housekeeping tasks will certainly be out of the question for recovering post-op patients. This is another major benefit of working with a transitional in-home care provider after surgery; all of these tasks can be taken care of by a professional.

Meal Preparation

Balanced nutrition plays a crucial role in the healing process, yet it’s usually difficult for post-operative patients to prepare their own meals. Rather than relying on unhealthy take-out food or premade, frozen meals, patients can enjoy nutritious and delicious homemade meals prepared by an in-home caregiver.

Good nutrition is important for seniors, but those with dementia often experience challenges getting the right nutrients. This may be because seniors living with dementia may have a reduced appetite, be too distracted at mealtimes, or have problems feeding themselves. If you’re concerned about your loved one’s health, consider talking to a home health aide near Memphis. Specialized elder care services are available for individuals with dementia, including assistance with meal preparation and feeding.

Poor Appetite

Elder care providers can assist your loved one with a decline in appetite. Among seniors with dementia, poor appetite is often attributable to poorly fitted dentures, changes in medications, and the lack of sufficient exercise. Some people may not want to eat because they no longer recognize the food or because they no longer have a strong sense of taste and smell. It may be helpful to serve five or six smaller meals instead of three main meals. Preparing the individual’s favorite foods and encouraging him or her to move a little more may both help improve his or her appetite.

Mealtime Distractions

Individuals with dementia have trouble with stimulating environments. They may have trouble eating if there are too many distractions present, which can inhibit their ability to get all the nutrients they need . Elder care providers often prefer to keep the television and radio turned off during mealtimes. It can also be helpful to eliminate clutter to encourage a calm environment. For example, it’s best to remove the vase of flowers or bowl of fruit from the table during mealtimes. Only set down the plate of food, a napkin, and needed utensils.

Feeding Problems

It may take an hour or longer for an individual with dementia to consume a meal. Fortunately, dementia care providers have plenty of time to sit with the individual and keep him or her company while eating. It’s generally preferable to allow the individual to retain as much independence as possible while eating, even if self-feeding becomes messy. The caregiver may serve bite-sized finger foods to encourage the individual’s self-feeding abilities. During the mid-to late stages of dementia, it can be helpful to prepare foods in a way that minimizes difficulty chewing and swallowing, such as by grinding up foods or serving soft foods.

The families of loved ones who are terminally ill already know all too well that the grieving process begins before the death occurs. But anticipatory grief is not as widely acknowledged and so families may not take the time that they need to acknowledge their own emotional needs. It’s important for families to reach out for help when needed. A caregiver agency near Memphis can provide in-home hospice care to help families focus on their emotional and spiritual needs.

Understanding Anticipatory Grief

Anticipatory grief shares many of the same characteristics as grief after a loved one has passed. Some individuals describe feeling as though they’re losing their minds or can no longer think clearly. Anticipatory grief encompasses anger, sadness, loneliness, depression, and guilt. It can also bring feelings of fear, fatigue, and emotional numbness. It’s important to understand that there is no “normal” way to grieve for someone who hasn’t yet passed on; everyone will have a different experience. It’s not uncommon for individuals to imagine what life will be like after the death; some may go as far as to imagine what they will do with the person’s possessions or with the family home. These thoughts should not be interpreted as indicating callousness. They are simply the mind’s way of trying to cope with an unimaginable situation.

Identifying End of Life Services

During such a difficult time, your family needs elder care services more than ever. At this stage, these services are known as end of life care or hospice care. While many individuals feel that they ought to provide all of the care themselves, this is often not practical and it can detract from the process of saying goodbye to the dying family member. Instead, hire a hospice caregiver to provide services such as personal hygiene tasks and light housekeeping. You owe it to yourself to give yourself a break.

Saying Goodbye Without Regrets

Ask yourself if you will have any regrets when your loved one is gone. Many people regret never truly saying goodbye or making amends for past conflicts. When the dying person is a parent, many adult children regret never reassuring him or her that they will take care of the surviving spouse. Spend time with your loved one in quiet reflection, share treasured memories, and say goodbye without regrets.