Services for elderly folks can include in-home dementia care during the early stages or simply help with personal tasks, such as bathing and dressing, for those with mobility challenges. Other services could involve household chores, medication distribution, meal prep, or transportation for those who can no longer drive for themselves.
There are also services that provide companionship and skilled nursing. Basically, services that offer assistance with any task an aging person might need, from in-home care to assisted living to 24/7 inpatient nursing care.
For example, while her son and I were going through a divorce, my ex-mother-in-law began showing definite signs of dementia. Unfortunately, we were not speaking at the time, but we lived in the same town. Before her decline, we ran into each other at the local grocery store and decided we would stay in touch despite the divorce because we genuinely cared for each other.
And so, we did. I invited her over for the holidays and on Thursdays. Ever since my sons were born, my ex-mother-in-law would come over to my home each Thursday to babysit; Thursdays were “Grandma’s Day”, so we tried to rekindle that special routine.
According to the National Institute of Health, “There are many types of services available to help meet the long-term care needs of an older person living at home. Family members and friends may be able to help with some personal and household tasks. But you might want to hire professionals to assist with others.
Home health care services may be available to help older people with many aspects of health care, such as medications, wound care, medical equipment, and physical therapy. The provider may come for a few hours each day or stay 24/7.
Home health care services may include in-home nursing care to help a person recover from surgery, an accident, or an illness. If the person just left the hospital and still needs nursing care at home for a short time, the hospital can help arrange for a home health aide. In-home health services can also help manage long-lasting (chronic) conditions such as diabetes, for example, by testing a person’s blood sugar or giving insulin through a pump,”.
Ultimately, eldercare is an umbrella term for a wide array of services intended to help older people live as comfortably and independently as possible.
Impact of dementia on family members
While watching my sons go through stages of grief with their grandmother’s dementia, I am reminded of when I was a little girl, and I watched my mom go through a similar situation with her grandmother. Sadly, my great-grandmother (Grammy) had Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s Society of Canada suggests that some of the most common feelings families and caregivers experience are guilt, grief and loss, and anger. They urge family members to know they are not alone, and there are community outreach programs that can support family members during this arduous path, in which they have no control over outcomes for their loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
The National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners states that, “Caregiving for dementia can have profound effects on both the individual with dementia and their loved ones. While dementia may affect the person diagnosed, the emotional, financial, and physical burden on family members and caregivers is often overwhelming. Caregivers of individuals with dementia are at risk of mental and physical health challenges, isolation, financial strain, and emotional stress,”.
Here are some self-care tips that can:
- Take breaks
- Seek support
- Practice self-care
- Set boundaries
- Ask for help
- Stay informed
- Prioritize your health
- Stay connected
- Be kind to yourself
Signs of rapid onset dementia
As my mother-in-law got worse, things like getting lost driving started to happen. For example, one day, my adult son got a panicked call from his grandmother saying she was lost and did not know how to get back home.
Apparently, she drove to her previous address, thirty miles away from her current address. She parked in her old spot and went to walk up to the door, only to realize she was in the wrong place and could not remember why.
To add insult to injury, she suddenly remembered that her husband had passed away a year prior, which sent her into a tailspin of grief and feelings of hopelessness. We really need to find a better way to help our loved ones struggling with memory diseases.
Here are a few signs to watch out for:
- Memory problems, particularly remembering recent events
- Increasing confusion
- Reduced concentration
- Personality or behavior changes
- Apathy, withdrawal, or depression
- Loss of ability to do everyday tasks
(Signs of late-stage dementia)
- Speech is limited to single words or phrases that may not make sense
- Having a limited understanding of what is being said to them
- Needing help with most everyday activities
- Eating less and having difficulties swallowing
- Bowel and bladder incontinence
The Alzheimer’s Society explains, “The late stage of Alzheimer’s disease may also be called the ‘severe’ or ‘advanced’ stage.
In this stage, the person living with Alzheimer’s disease eventually becomes unable to communicate verbally or look after themselves. Nonverbal communication becomes more important.
The person in the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease will experience:
Severe impairment in memory, processing new information and recognizing time and place,
Losing capacity for recognizable speech and
The loss of the ability to eat, walk and use the toilet without assistance.
Care may be required 24 hours a day. At this stage, it’s important for caregivers to continue to support the person to provide the highest quality of life possible,”.
Sadly, my ex-mother-in-law quickly progressed from receiving home health care services in a senior community to full-time nursing home care and was heavily medicated. It is heartbreaking to watch and to see the effects on my sons, her closest grandsons.
What does elder care include?
In conclusion, stepping back, the key takeaway is simple: informed choices lead to better outcomes. When we understand the issues, weigh the options, and stay proactive, we set ourselves up for steadier decisions and fewer surprises down the road.