How can a Live-in Carer support someone who has Alzheimer’s Disease?
Most people living with Alzheimer’s Disease would prefer to stay in the comfort of their own home. Familiar surroundings are comforting and there is often a support network of friends and family locally. With full-time in home Alzheimer's care, you are provided with 24-hour care focused on your individual needs. You can tailor the Live-in service to ensure you are able to enjoy a high quality of life. Also tailor the service to maintain control and choice to live as independently as possible.
Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common cause of Dementia. Dementia is a general term for the impaired ability to think, remember and make decisions. Symptoms can include poor memory and confusion, difficulties with mobility, and difficulties with communication. All of these can be safely managed in the home with the expert support of a Live-in carer. Your Mental Health Nurse or Dementia Adviser will give guidance and support to you and your carer about managing your symptoms.
An Occupational Therapist can assess you and your home for any equipment needed for your personalised care. This will ensure your home is suitable for your needs and your Live-in carer can support you safely. Your Live-in carer will be experienced with all types of mobility aids and equipment. They will help you to manage your Alzheimer’s Disease and adjust to any new requirements.
Just some of the help a Live-in Carer can offer:
Support with personal care
- At times and in ways that you choose. This might include bathing, showering, dressing, and undressing and general support with your personal appearance. This may be help with shaving, hair care and make-up, jewellery, nail care, etc. Having Alzheimer’s Disease does not mean that your appearance need suffer. Your Live-in carer will listen to your preferences and how you like things to be done and help accordingly.
Support with continence
- Accessing the bathroom, using the loo, incontinence products or more complex support such as catheter and stoma care where required. Alzheimer’s Disease can come with different problems relating to your bladder & bowels. We introduce Live-in Carers who have the right experience & training who know exactly how to help you. They will also be able to monitor and track any changes. Your Live-in Carer can support you to report any changes back to your GP or Mental Health Nurse.
Support with mobility
- Alzheimer’s Disease can cause you to forget how to walk. Alternatively, it may cause restlessness, resulting in you pacing or walking more than you need to. Both symptoms can be challenging in different ways. Our experienced Live-in Carers are there to help you in any way they can. That might be helping you transfer, hoisting or just being there to help give you confidence when you are walking. They will look out for any hazards to help you to stay safe. Knowing your Live-in Carer is there if you should fall or have an accident can help with worry. It will also give you and your family reassurance and peace of mind.
Assisting with medication
– Your Live-in Carer will be fully trained in the safe administration of medication. They will be happy to support you with ordering and collecting prescriptions. They can gently prompt when medication is due, keep your medication safe and can support you with pain management. Your Live-in Carer can help you liaise with your GP or Mental Health Nurse if any changes are needed.
Domestic Duties
- The day-to-day running of the home, including hoovering, dusting, other light housework, and laundry. Some of our Live-in Carers also love gardening. They will be very happy to help you in your outdoor spaces, maybe growing seeds, or watering. They can also help you keep your bird feeders topped up. Your Live-in Carer can also help with other activities that can prove challenging with Alzheimer’s Disease. This might include dealing with correspondence and helping with shopping online.
Preparing and Cooking Meals
– Prepared to your likes using fresh ingredients, ensuring you are provided with a nutritious and balanced diet. Our Live-in carers will welcome your input in the kitchen and cooking together can be an enjoyable social activity. Our fully trained Live-in Carers will also accommodate any special dietary requirements, including a soft diet. Alzheimer’s Disease can cause problems including forgetting to eat or drink, or not recognising when you are hungry, thirsty, or full. You may also struggle to recognise food or struggle to use cutlery. Our Carers will give you whatever support you need when you need it.
Companionship
– Chatting, laughing, watching TV, or listening to music together or just sitting quietly. A lot of our Live-in Carers stay with their clients for a long time and become friends. Feeling companionship is a vital part of maintaining emotional stability.
Pet Care
– Our Live-in carers will enjoy helping you take care of your beloved pets. That may include walking them, feeding them and arranging or supporting with vet visits when needed. Pets can be amazing way of calming anxiety and reducing stress levels associated with many conditions including Alzheimer’s Disease.
Support to arrange and attend activities in and out of the home
- Visits to friends and family or attending places of interest to you. This might include National Trust gardens, shopping, community groups and clubs, visits to your hairdresser, etc. A Live-in carer will facilitate and welcome your loved ones to visit you at home.
Support with your physical and mental health
– Your Live-in Carer will support you to contact your local surgery for GP or district nurse input. Your Live-in Carer will be able to support and accompany you to GP and hospital appointments. An experienced Live-in Carer will understand the emotional impact Alzheimer’s Disease can have on their client. They will be sensitive to your needs and understand the challenges and frustrations you face.
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Support with cognitive difficulties
– Your Live-in Carer can help with the cognitive problems caused by Alzheimer’s Disease. They will help you remember things such as important dates, appointments, and birthdays. They will help with orientation – remind you where you are, what you’re doing, and whether it’s day or night. If you have periods of agitation, your Carer will support you through this. You may also have trouble communicating and getting stuck on words. Your Live-in Carer can help you speak to your family, friends & professionals when you need assistance. They are also there to help understand and process important information, for example instructions from your doctor.
Finding the Perfect Carer for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease
At Access Care we pride ourselves on being a Live-in care recruitment agency who really care. We want to make a great match of Carer for all our clients. We know how much our Live-in Carers support and enhance the quality of life of our clients. Furthermore, it’s a pleasure to help make that happen.
We have been introducing professionally trained Live-in Carers to care for people with Alzheimer’s Disease at home for 30 years. Many of our carers have a wealth of experience and have attended specialist Dementia care training. We will always strive for continuity of Live-in Carers for our Clients with Alzheimer’s Disease. This enables our Carers to really get to know their Clients. It also brings familiarity and reassurance for our Clients.
We will listen to your wishes and needs. We will talk to you to get to know you so we can try to find you a Live-in Carer with common interests and beliefs. This is in addition to the necessary care qualifications, skills, and experience.
For our Clients with Alzheimer’s Disease, we look for Live-in Carers who ideally have advanced experience of caring for clients with Alzheimer’s Disease. They will have the necessary understanding and insight into the condition as well as the practical skills to support you. Our job is to present you with possible Live-in Carers to choose from. Your job is to choose one!
Alzheimer’s Disease Resources you may find useful
Alzheimer’s Society offers expert advice and guidance, funds research, campaigns on behalf of people affected by Dementia, run activity groups, Dementia Café’s, and peer support groups www.alzheimers.org.uk
Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) is the international federation of Alzheimer’s and Dementia associations around the world. It works to empower Dementia and Alzheimer’s associations, coordinates a global awareness campaign, and supports ongoing research. www.alzint.org
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