In-Home Alzheimer's Care in Waynesville, NC

Alzheimer's disease is a cognitive condition that, over time, changes an individual's perception of the world around them. Their past memories gradually overtake current realities, and the inability to form new memories makes it difficult for them to adjust to the changing nature of their surroundings. Visiting Angels provides attentive, personalized in-home care for Alzheimer's patients, offering the support, assistance, and dignity they need to cope with this progressive condition.

What Is Alzheimer's?

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition that causes the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Though the exact source of these abnormalities is unknown, the effects of Alzheimer's disease are well-documented. Memory loss is a hallmark symptom of Alzheimer's disease. Patients lose the ability to form new memories, so they struggle with misplacing items, forgetting to pay bills, and getting lost. As the disease progresses, Alzheimer's patients can get lost in time, forgetting where they are or who they're with.

Alzheimer's disease can also cause depression, anxiety, anger, and frustration. Patients lose the ability to make sound decisions and sensible judgments. They may lose their inhibitions or withdraw socially. Mood swings and delusions are not uncommon, as Alzheimer's disease makes it difficult for patients to understand what's happening around them. Care and supervision are essential for the safety and health of these individuals.

What Are the Benefits of In-Home Care for Alzheimer's Patients?

In-home care provides a wealth of benefits for Alzheimer's patients. At Visiting Angels, we're passionate about allowing Alzheimer's patients to stay in the environment that's most familiar to them, allowing them to retain a sense of comfort and safety throughout their final years.

Familiar Environment

In-home care allows Alzheimer's patients to remain in a familiar environment. As Alzheimer's disease includes the inability to form new memories, a new environment will quickly feel alien to someone with this disease. Those in the later stages of Alzheimer's may be entirely unable to familiarize themselves with a new living situation, even after being there for several years. On the other hand, the patient's home may continue to feel safe and recognizable, particularly if they've lived there for a long time. 

In-home care allows Alzheimer's patients to maintain routines and live among the objects that are most familiar to them. Bringing the caregiver to the home provides the opportunity for those with Alzheimer's to stay where their most vivid memories occurred, which can be very comforting for them.

One-on-One Attention

In-home care delivers personalized, one-on-one attention to the patient. Your loved one isn't just one among many in a crowded residential care facility but the sole focus of their caregiver. This provides for meaningful relationships, thoughtfully tailored care plans, and attentive services. Our caregivers get to know their patients personally, allowing them to respond appropriately when the patient gets confused or lost. This tailored care can't be found in a residential facility.

Independence and Dignity

Staying in one's own home provides a sense of dignity for Alzheimer's patients. While these individuals may have more supervision than before, they can still maintain a sense of independence. They get to retain ownership of their home and everything in it, including their thoughtfully decorated spaces, beloved gardens, and treasured belongings. Moving into a residential facility presents the difficult task of deciding what the patient can take and what they must leave behind. In-home care eliminates this decision-making process, instead allowing the individual to maintain as much control and autonomy as possible.

Continuity of Care

Our caregivers at Visiting Angels have the opportunity to build trust and confidence with their patients, which goes a long way toward supporting the patient's emotional well-being. Providing Alzheimer's patients with a sense of safety is crucial, as they live in a world that becomes more foreign and confusing with time. 

Caregivers who work with patients in their own homes also have a greater opportunity to monitor the individual's condition. This equips the caregiver to identify and act upon any changes in a timely manner so that healthcare providers can be contacted when necessary for medical intervention.

Specialized Care Plans for Alzheimer's

Our caregivers at Visiting Angels Asheville offer flexible scheduling to meet the evolving needs of the patient and their family, making it possible to arrange extra help during the most difficult times of the day. Some Alzheimer's patients struggle with sundowning, which is a state of heightened anxiety in the evening. Having extra support at this time of day may provide relief for family members who struggle to cope with some of the effects of sundowning, such as persistent shadowing, wandering, or hallucinations. 

Other families may need more assistance in the mornings as they're preparing for the day or during mid-afternoons when everyone is at work or school. We work closely with every family to find the schedule that best suits their needs and effectively supports the patient.

What Care Services Are Offered?

Our Alzheimer's care  addresses all the nonmedical needs of Alzheimer's patients. Our well-trained caregivers know how to respond to the unique needs of those with Alzheimer's. We offer companionship and social support to these individuals so they don't become isolated, and we handle mood swings, depression, fear, and confusion with the utmost respect and compassion. 

Our services include:

• Meal planning and meal prep.
• Light housekeeping, including laundry.
• Medication reminders.
• Prescription pickups.
• Mobility assistance.
• Prevention for wandering.
• Transportation and accompaniment for errands or health care appointments.
• Assistance with grooming, toileting, bathing, and other daily activities.

Set Up the Optimal Care Plan for Your Loved One

Personalized in-home care gives Alzheimer's patients the most attentive assistance possible in their later years. Visiting Angels provides comprehensive support for patients and their families. Whether you need full-time care and supervision for a loved one or you simply want respite care for a family caregiver, we can help. Contact Visiting Angels in Asheville, North Carolina, to learn more about our in-home services for those with Alzheimer's. To get a detailed look at what we can do for you and your loved one, contact us for a personal consultation.