Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be one of the most difficult tasks for anyone to face. The disease’s progressive, degenerative nature brings about debilitating symptoms that can depress patients and exhaust caregivers. However, Alzheimer’s support services–including home care, meal delivery, hospice, and more–can help ease the burden on the senior’s family members.
If you’re looking for Alzheimer’s care options in Kent County, DE, reach out to Coastal Home Care. We are the region’s top source of in-home care, which allows seniors to age in place and retain their independence. Our team of caregivers include nurses and certified nursing assistants who we thoroughly vet and evaluate. We encourage you to contact us with questions about our options and take a look at testimonials from previous customers.
Below, we discuss the available choices for Alzheimer’s support services:
Alzheimer’s Care Options
1. Home Care Services
We begin with home care services, a broad category within which several particular options–including Alzheimer’s and hospice care–fall into. These services involve routine home visits from a caregiver who supports their patient for a window of time.
The “help” a patient receives could involve basic medical care–such as administering medicine–as well as chores around the house and facilitating appointments. The caregiver’s function is to fill the gaps in a patient’s self-care.
2. Home Health Care Services
While their similar labels confuse laypeople, “home care” and “home health care” have a crucial difference. Home care involves non-clinical services as described above; home health care calls for clinical services.
So, home health care services include post-operative care, medication management, and physical therapy. While Alzheimer’s care is generally seen as a home care service, it could become home health care. Alzheimer’s patients often need help with medications or extra support after a surgery.
3. Meal Services
Many organizations–such as Meals on Wheels–deliver hot food to seniors and those suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia. This option helps many family caregivers by ensuring that their loved one receives healthy meals.
However, many of these services do not entail a caregiver helping seniors to eat their meals. Our home care, meanwhile, can include meal preparation and feeding.
4. Hospice Services
When their Alzheimer’s has progressed for several years, your loved one may be reaching their natural end. That’s when hospice services, or end-of-life care, come into play. This option is designed to ease the passing of a loved one by softening symptoms and providing emotional support.
5. Respite Services
Similar to home care, respite services exist to support seniors and their family caregivers. However, they provide temporary services—whether that be for an afternoon or a month, they end after a set time. These services can take place at a care facility or in a senior’s home.
6. Geriatric Care Managers
Finally, a geriatric care manager can advise you and your family on the services to meet the needs of your loved one. Such individuals are either licensed nurses or social workers who may belong to various organizations. However, most insurance plans do not cover their services.
Professional Alzheimer’s Support Available in Kent County, DE
Whether your loved one has just received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis or lived with it for many years, their care shouldn’t become your burden. Reach out to Coastal Home Care and ask about our Alzheimer support services, available across Kent County, DE. Our professional team of nurses and certified nursing assistants handle Alzheimer’s care daily. Their experience and training can help them make your loved one’s life easier and more enjoyable. To learn more, call us at (302) 752-1800 or fill out our online form.