Everything gets a bit more complex when a loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia. All of the sudden, he or she may be confused or forget schedules and plans. And such forgetfulness may upset or depress your loved one. At that point, you must decide whether to be a devoted caregiver yourself or to hire outside help.
Recently, these conflicts gained a new dimension: COVID-19. Now, you must reduce your loved one’s risk of infection from both the outside world and yourself. Instead of trying to manage this burden alone, turn to Coastal Home Care. We proudly provide reliable Alzheimer’s and dementia care to folks in Wicomico County, MD. Our home care services allow your loved one to live where they choose, and our updated care methods will help maintain their health.
Here, we discuss how Alzheimer’s and dementia care can help ease the dangers posed by COVID-19:
Our Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care
First, let’s outline our standard care practices for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. We strive to help them enjoy their independent lives by focusing on specific concerns:
- Instead of solving all issues at once, we work through daily obstacles. We help patients to create routines and practices that help them manage symptoms and care for themselves.
- We also try to help patients feel comfortable. The memory loss that occurs with Alzheimer’s and dementia can make them feel baffled and depressed. So, we tweak common tasks and give them chances for self-expression.
- We maintain our patients’ well-being. Dementia patients often wander or stop physical activities. Thus, we adapt patients’ homes for safety and prepare for accidents.
How We Have Adapted Caregiving for COVID-19
Next, let’s detail how caregivers adapted their processes for Alzheimer’s and dementia care in response to the pandemic. We have summarized the strategies for COVID-19 care on our website already, but let’s review them here.
We’ve added wellness checks to our routine duties. Now, both caregivers and patients are screened daily for COVID-19 symptoms. We also conduct mental health screenings on patients to address symptoms of loneliness and depression.
We’ve also boosted our cleaning procedures. Caregivers already helped patients with cleaning, but now they disinfect frequent-use surfaces including light switches, countertops, faucets, and so on. What’s more, caregiving now requires increased hand washing.
And since many families are protecting their loved ones’ health through distance, caregivers promote activity and connection. We help patients combat boredom by urging them to perform daily activities and hobbies as well as self-care. We can also help your loved ones stay in regular contact with Zoom and Facetime.
Benefits of Hiring a Dementia Caregiver during COVID-19
So, how can hiring a caregiver for your senior loved one help you (and the rest of your family) in the COVID environment? We’ve already posted advice on caring for elders during COVID-19 and how the pandemic might affect them. But our services suit Alzheimer’s and dementia patients particularly well.
Even though many families mean well by isolating their loved ones, this may confuse a dementia patient. So, our caregivers can remind them about the situation during visits. We can also check for symptoms while ensuring that we don’t introduce the virus ourselves.
Also, if your loved one has coronavirus symptoms, you and your family should avoid contact with them. A caregiver can get them to a hospital safely thanks to our training with infectious diseases. You need not endanger yourself or your family’s health.
Contact Coastal Home Care for Reliable Caregiving in Wicomico County, MD
In such a difficult environment, we know the challenges of an Alzheimer’s or dementia patient can feel hopeless. That’s why you should not take it on alone: by reaching out to Coastal Home Care, your loved one can receive professional Alzheimer’s and Dementia care at their home in Wicomico County, MD. Call us at (866) 687-7307 to discuss your options for home care. We’re available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week!