It’s the last piece of news you wanted to hear when sitting with your Mom at the doctor as He delicately explains how her confusion and slight memory loss are the signs and symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease. Your arm is already around her as you pull her in even tighter trying to be strong for her all while your own emotions are erratic and the pain of the news you’ve just heard slowly sinks in. It’s terminal. There is no cure. You look into her eyes and tell her it’s going to be ok; that you will take care of her and that she has nothing to worry about. All the while you have no idea how to prepare for what’s ahead.
The A.D.A.M Medical Encyclopedia describes Alzheimer’s as a form of Dementia. “Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is one form of dementia that gradually gets worse over time. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Memory impairment, as well as problems with language, decision-making ability, judgment, and personality, are necessary features for the diagnosis.”
There are 7 stages that the disease typically follows as it develops in the patient:
| Stage 1: | No impairment (normal function) The person does not experience any memory problems. An interview with a medical professional does not show any evidence of symptoms of dementia. |
| Stage 2: | Very mild cognitive decline (may be normal age-related changes or earliest signs of Alzheimer’s disease) The person may feel as if he or she is having memory lapses — forgetting familiar words or the location of everyday objects. But no symptoms of dementia can be detected during a medical examination or by friends, family or co-workers. |
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| Stage 3: | Mild cognitive decline (early-stage Alzheimer’s can be diagnosed in some, but not all, individuals with these symptoms) Friends, family or co-workers begin to notice difficulties. During a detailed medical interview, doctors may be able to detect problems in memory or concentration. Common stage 3 difficulties include:
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| Stage 4: | Moderate cognitive decline (Mild or early-stage Alzheimer’s disease) At this point, a careful medical interview should be able to detect clear-cut symptoms in several areas:
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| Stage 5: | Moderately severe cognitive decline (Moderate or mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease) Gaps in memory and thinking are noticeable, and individuals begin to need help with day-to-day activities. At this stage, those with Alzheimer’s may:
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| Stage 6: | Severe cognitive decline (Moderately severe or mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease) Memory continues to worsen, personality changes may take place and individuals need extensive help with daily activities. At this stage, individuals may:
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| Stage 7: | Very severe cognitive decline (Severe or late-stage Alzheimer’s disease) In the final stage of this disease, individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, to carry on a conversation and, eventually, to control movement. They may still say words or phrases. At this stage, individuals need help with much of their daily personal care, including eating or using the toilet. They may also lose the ability to smile, to sit without support and to hold their heads up. Reflexes become abnormal. Muscles grow rigid. Swallowing impaired. |
Help! What do I do?
- Don’t fight this battle alone. Sign up for one of the Alzheimer’s Association groups in your area to talk with other family members who are going through the same or similar circumstances.
- Talk with an In-Home Care provider like Total Care Connections to discuss how the possibly of bringing in a Memory Care Trained Caregiver can provide the much needed relief and rest for you and your family throughout the week.
No one can truly prepare to fight the battle of Alzheimer’s disease. But understanding it, finding support in others who can empathize, and having the help from a trusted memory care provider can be the help you desperately need and the support that carries you through.
Top Five Reasons to Choose In-Home Care
by Shannon Dauphin
Choosing in-home care might be the best choice for you or your loved one–but how do you know for sure? This quick primer on in-home care can help you make that very important decision.
Seniors sometimes need a bit of help. Whether that means simple reminders to take their medication or something as significant as 24-hour medical monitoring, there is a solution designed to meet all of their unique needs.
What Kind of Care is Best for Your Loved One?
There are many different kinds of care available for elderly patients. Some will require occasional light help, while others might need round-the-clock nursing care. Knowing your options can help you choose the best one to fit the needs of everyone involved.
3. Skilled Nursing Facility. Also known as a nursing home, a skilled nursing facility offers round-the-clock care for those patients who need constant monitoring.
2. Assisted Living. Assisted living facilities offer custodial care, or help with the basics of day-to-day life. Grooming, bathing, dressing, and meal preparation are just a few of the ways assisted living can help.
1. In-Home Care. Care at home can cover a wide range of assistance. From help with occasional grocery shopping to full-time medical attention, there is an in-home care option available.
The Top Five Considerations for In-Home Care
In-home care is the most popular option chosen by the American public. Consider the following reasons why in-home care might be the best choice for you and your family as well:
1. Independence Matters. With in-home care, patients are encouraged to be as independent as possible. With a few changes for safety, such as grab bars and anti-slip rugs, freedom to move around the comfort of their own home is very possible with in-home care.
2. Family Involvement. Those who are cared for at home have the advantage of open visiting hours. Family members can stop in and help out as often as necessary without concerns about intruding on the care of others. In times of illness, the presence of family members can buoy a patient’s spirits and make everyone feel more in-control of the situation.
3. Continuity of Care. Home care is often provided by the same nurse or team or nurses, so they always know what kind of care has been given or is needed. The patient can also keep their same doctor, so the continuity of their care stays intact.
4. Safe and Personal. The risks of infection are lessened when a patient uses in-home care. The one-on-one care and personal attention also ensures that all your loved one’s needs can be met quickly and without the red tape often found in hospitals or nursing homes.
5. Lower Costs. In-home care providers are usually less expensive than nursing homes or assisted living facilities. With in-home care, you also have the option of hiring someone for only the hours when your loved one needs help the most. Lower costs also offer peace of mind to those seniors who are concerned about the financial burden their care might put on their family.
Over the years, we have had the privilege of providing care for hundreds of clients. We’ve received dozens of Thank-you cards, notes, and words of appreciation for the care we have provided loved ones and their families. Most of the time, we are entering our clients’ lives in the moments where they find themselves the most vulnerable and in a place where they no longer can take care of themselves. This presents incredible challenge for the families as well.
That is why we’ve adopted the “Total Care” philosophy that we choose to live by. We don’t limit the care that we provide while in a client’s home. Instead, we focus on doing as much as we possibly can for the client and their family members while we are there. It’s our privilege to not only care for the client but for the entire household – allowing loved ones to rest while things are being taken care of. We seek to be kind, compassionate, considerate, and to always be looking for ways to add value. Providing this much needed care is more than just a job – it’s a calling. We take it seriously and it is our vision that all of our clients would feel that they have been treated above and beyond their expectations.
When Total Care Connections first began, we instituted the following values. They are still the same today and it’s our goal to continue living to advance these for many years to come.
Compassion
- The motivation that drives our success is the care we have for our clients
Integrity
- We do what we say we will do
Stewardship
- We strive to conservatively manage our resources to be as effective as possible
Quality
- Providing the best care possible is of the utmost importance
Innovation
- We seek to provide the latest solutions and processes to meet the needs of our clients
We are committed to providing “total care” to our clients and families and going above and beyond to make the experience our clients have with TCC the best that it can be.
Home Care’s Booming, and So Is Regulation
As services for seniors expand, entrepreneurs are preparing for more scrutiny from regulators
By John Tozzi
As the first baby boomers turn 65 this year, entrepreneurs see opportunity. The number of companies providing home health care or services such as assistance in dressing, bathing, and cooking increased by more than 50 percent in the past decade, U.S. Census Bureau data show. Now regulators are scrambling to catch up with the growing industry.
Home-care companies aren’t regulated in about two dozen states, and just a handful require licenses for companies that provide nonmedical services. Today the industry faces a hodgepodge of inconsistent rules that advocates say puts vulnerable people at risk of financial exploitation or physical abuse. In states that require licensing, many operators ignore regulations because the costs of complying are high and the risk of getting caught is low, people in the industry say. Continue reading
June, 1, 2011: Total Care Connections featured on PBS:
http://goo.gl/i8fgB
March 11, 2011: Daniel Stringer named as semi-finalist for Inside Tucson Business’ “Up and Comer” list:
http://goo.gl/0Dm8F
October 19, 2011: Nick Puente and Daniel Stringer ranked as Top “35 entrepreneurs under 35”
http://goo.gl/AHrVb
March, 12, 2010: “Placement service makes care choices less daunting”
http://goo.gl/OQIWQ
